Coffee in Puerto Rico is a hugely significant drink and pre-dates colonial times. The peculiar and distinct taste of the coffee in Puerto Rico is achieved by the fact that the coffee beans are grown in a type of volcanic soil that is only unique to the island. Coffee in Puerto Rico has a history that stretches back over 2 centuries and quickly became one of the most valuable commodities and among the biggest supporters of the early Puerto Rico economy. Since then coffee in Puerto Rico has become among the best in the world and is sought by coffee lovers from around the globe.
Here is a List of Our Favourite Places to Get Coffee in Puerto Rico:
1. Cafe Don Ruiz
Cafe Don Ruiz is one of the oldest and most prestigious cafes in Puerto Rico. The cafe itself belongs to a fourth-generation family of Puerto Ricans that have been farming the beans and doing the grinding and processing of the coffee by themselves on their own farm and mill for the past 150 years. After the coffee cherries have been picked and cleaned, it is then shipped to Old San Juan to their cosy little cafe where it is carefully roasted and turned into their specialty single-harvest gourmet coffee. One can also try their other varieties like the pour-over or the latte preparations. Cafe Don Ruiz is a must-visit for any coffee lover in Puerto Rico.
2. Cafe Cuatro Sombras
Located in the trendy and hip part of Old San Juan, Cafe Cuatro Sombras is one of the most relevant and up and coming cafes in Puerto Rico. The name of the cafe translates to “Cafe Four Shades” and this comes from the fact that their coffee beans are harvested under the shade of four different types of trees. Their coffee is harvested in the mountainous, coffee-growing region of Yauto and then is hauled to Old San Juan. They are also especially known for their wonderful guava butter toasts and soft, flaky pastries.
3. Hacienda Lealtad
A Hacienda in Spanish refers to an old colonial-style bungalow that oversees crops and other plantations that belong to the house. The Hacienda Lealtad is one of the oldest coffee haciendas in Puerto Rico and was in its prime during the 19th Century. Painstakingly restored, Hacienda Lealtad is the perfect place to visit if you are keen on learning about the coffee-making process and offers a peek into what life was like back then, all while sipping on some of their deliciously aromatic coffee blends.
4. Hacienda San Pedro
Among the most visited and beloved cafes in all of Puerto Rico is the Hacienda San Pedro, located in the mountainous region of Jayuya. The peculiarity of the coffee that one gets and Hacienda San Pedro is that the hand-plucked coffee beans are roasted and dried in vintage barrels that impart a distinct sweetness to the coffee itself while it is ageing. These barrels are over 100 years old and explain why Hacienda San Pedro remains one of the most popular cafes in Puerto Rico.
5. Cafe Regina
One of the more contemporary cafes in Puerto Rico is the Cafe Regina. While most other places that serve coffee in Puerto Rico serve it either as a shot in espresso form or as black coffee, Cafe Regina breaks the mould by serving experimental forms of coffee such as the Coffee with tonic or the popular Dark N Stormy, which is a cold-brewed coffee that is made with coconut syrup and ginger beer. This playful nature makes it one of the most popular cafes in the region, ideal for those that love some playful flavours with their coffees.
6. Cafe Comunion
Cafe Comunion is one of the most well-known places to get coffee in Puerto Rico and is located in the stylish neighbourhood of Santurce. After the devastating hurricanes in 2017, the cafe was ravaged but this did not discourage owner Abner Roldan. Showing remarkable resilience, his passion for teaching people about coffee in Puerto Rico ensured that Cafe Comunion bounced back strong. He even hosts a podcast about coffee!
7. Lluvie Deli Bar and Artefacto
One of the most beautiful places one could hope to get coffee in Puerto Rico is the Lluvie Deli Bar and Artefacto. The word ‘Lluvia’ means rain in Spanish and this comes as no surprise as the cafe is tucked into the El Yunque rainforest. Inside the cafe is a warm, cozy world, whose air is permeated by the wonderful smells of their coffee roasting. Outdoor patios drenched in sunlight that is dappled by the rainforest canopy offers some of the most scenic places to drink a coffee. They even serve alcohol in the form of martinis for those that would like a bit of a stiffer drink than coffee.
We hope this article about coffee in Puerto Rico was helpful to you! Let us know in the comments below which of these cafes are your favourite!