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Experience Puerto Rico’s coffee culture
"A single, very scenic, tasty and aroma-filled tour"

Debbie Molina
Tourist guide

I was raised in the countryside of Puerto Rico. I remember my Mother greeting family and friends by offering them a cup of coffee.  “Buenas tardes bienvenido a mi casa. ¿Gustan una taza de café?”  The aroma of coffee in the morning is an enjoyable way to begin the day.  A smile follows a cup of coffee at lunch.  The best way to end the day is listening to friends and family over coffee at the diner table.

For most of my life, I was fortunate to be able to drink coffee harvested at my family’s farm.  While in college in New York, my Mom sent me a pound of coffee every month by next day mail.  Nowadays, I have a collection of local brand coffee in my kitchen, and every day I drink a different brand of 100% Puerto Rican coffee.  As I write this article, I am enjoying a cup of coffee.

My island is ideal for coffee plantations. Because I am proud of my coffee heritage, I have designed a guided tour in which the aroma and flavor of Puerto Rico's high mountain grown coffee can be closely experienced at a century-old plantation in a pleasant atmosphere with all included.  "Heartland of Specialty Coffee" is single, very scenic, tasty and aroma-filled tour.

Puerto Rico has produced Arabic coffee, which has been shipped around the world since 1736.  The culture of Puerto Rico and the coffee industry have been closely entwined.  It has even influenced people’s decision to continue living in the mountain area.

Puerto Rican coffee is rich in flavor and history. The Island is approximately 119 by 39 miles (160 by 56 kilometers) and was once the fourth largest coffee exporter in the world. Puerto Rico has overcome many obstacles such as invasion, world economic depression and hurricanes to regain its rightful place among world-class coffee exporters, producing one of but 3 specialty coffees in the world. Several coffee farmers have their own brands, some of which deserves the title “gourmet”. There are approximately 25 coffee brands that can only be bought at the farms, the town’s grocery store and, now in the 21^st century, by Internet.

The coffee industry contributes 37 million dollars to Puerto Rico’s economy.  It is the third most important agricultural product of Puerto Rico. The Administration of Services and Farming Development of Puerto Rico reports that approximately 9,000 people are dedicated to picking coffee.

Most of the coffee land is located in the Center, Northwest and West of Puerto Rico.  A total of 75,000 acres is dedicated to growing coffee.  The local coffee consumption is 30,000,000 pounds a year. The population of Puerto Rico is nearly 4 million.  In other words, Puerto Ricans consume 7.5 pounds of coffee per capita in a year.

The coffee plantation tour is ideal for anyone who wishes to see Puerto Rico outside the Metro and tourist area in a safe and enjoyable atmosphere.

Hotel guests, whether they drink coffee or not, have an opportunity to experience the Island’s enchanting culture and scenery in this all-inclusive tour. 

Participants will see how Puerto Ricans produce their internationally recognized coffee and enjoy a walk through a private plantation's coffee field. In addition, they will also be able to buy coffee at wholesale for themselves or as a gift. Fill their lungs with Caribbean mountain air at approximately 2,500 feet.

A tour of a century-old coffee plantation located in the heartland provides the opportunity to enjoy coffee production, in a single, very scenic, tasty and aroma-filled experience.

During the approximately 2 hours and 45 minute ride to the plantation they will travel through the Island's chain of mountains, witness how a green rocky land changes to desert vegetation in 5 minutes with the Caribbean Sea in the background.  As we reach the mountain area, we will leave the Expressway to travel over part of the Panoramic Route.

The aroma of coffee does fill the air at the plantation.  The first activity upon arrival will be enjoying a freshly roasted grounded and brewed cup of coffee with 100% ripe Arabic beans followed by the guided walk in the field. 

You will see, feel and smell the 7 stages in which Puerto Rico’s specialty coffee is processed. Each stage has its unique visual beauty, smell, sense of touch, aroma and taste.

Your eyes will be able to enjoy the Mountain View, smell the evergreen trees’ fragrance at the field. The de-pulping of the ripe berries leaves a sweet smell in the air and your skin will feel the moist of the washing of the beans at the mill.

You will also feel the heat produced by the mechanical dryer and the warmth and new smell of the dry beans. Your nose will tickle while watching the dehusker remove the parchments from the beans.

Listen to the “maraca” sound that produces the dry bean when you shake it with your hands. The aroma created by the roasting and grounding of the beans at the roaster will awaken all the senses of your body.

Finally, you will inhale from a cup with freshly brewed Puerto Rican specialty coffee and drink it while being inside a century old plantation and surrounded by the coffee workers.

For details of how we can have a cup of Puerto Rican coffee together at a century-old plantation call +1-787-605-9060, write info@legendsofpr.com or visit www.legendsofpr.com

Copy and E-mail this article's link to someone that you know is planning to travel. www.legendsofpr.com/magazine_coffee.asp

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