Puerto Rico is best-known for producing world-class rum and legendary Latin American heartthrobs like Ricky Martin. But the ‘Island of Enchantment’ isn’t just ‘livin la vida loca,’ they’re also growing beans that rival the very best coffee producers on the planet.
Coffee cultivation in Puerto Rico kicked off in the 1700s during Spanish colonial rule. Delicious arabica beans were mostly grown as a local luxury until the 1800s, when Puerto Rico quickly became one of the top premium coffee growers in the world.
Unfortunately, increasing costs, political unrest, and relentless natural disasters have wreaked havoc on Puerto Rico’s coffee industry. The island’s coffee crop, which was once projected to be worth $100 million, was nearly decimated when Hurricane Maria made landfall in September 2017.
But not all hope is lost – Puerto Rican coffee farmers are working diligently to revive the coffee industry. So, if you’re familiar with the sentiment ‘quality over quantity,’ we have a few suggestions for your next batch of Caribbean coffee beans courtesy of Puerto Rico.
5 Best Puerto Rican Coffee Brands
Puerto Rican Coffee Growing Regions
Generally, coffee in Puerto Rico is categorized by haciendas, or coffee-growing plantations. In some cases, however, roasters will refer to bean quality by its location and/or brand. Two of the most popular, high-altitude coffee-growing towns are Ponce and Yauco.
Yauco
The mountain town of Yauco, in particular, is beloved by locals. Yauco is admirably referred to as ‘The City of Coffee,’ and houses several impressive Haciendas like Hacienda San Pedro and Hacienda Santa Ana. Yauco’s mountainous terrain and natural waterways make the area ideal for premium coffee cultivation.
Ponce
Ponce, which houses the island’s tallest mountain, is Puerto Rico’s second largest municipality. Ponce is best-known for housing Hacienda Pomarrosa and Hacienda Buena Vista – though the latter primarily functions as a museum. Hacienda Pomarrosa sits at 3,000 feet at the foot of Cerra Punta and produces only the finest, gourmet, arabica beans.
Conclusion
Puerto Rico might not be the first place you think of when think premium coffee beans. But despite the island’s complicated and devastating history, their coffee continues to reemerge as one of the very best beans in the coffee industry.
It’s estimated that 90% of Puerto Rico’s plantations were devastated by hurricane Maria in 2017. If you’d like to see Puerto Rico’s coffee industry thrive, like it once did, grab a bag of these smooth-bodied beans and enjoy!