Puerto Rico coffee
Puerto
Rico coffee is considered among the finest in the world due to the island's
almost perfect coffee-growing climate and altitude and has been grown
on the island since 1736.
There are just three coffees in the world that have been awarded the status of Super-Premium. And two of them are Puerto Rican brands.
The first of these coffees is simply called "Expresso", while the second, "Alto Grande" is known as the "coffee of Popes and Kings" and both are excellent.
The history of Puerto Rican coffee
Although coffee has been grown in Puerto Rico since 1736, it was not until the beginning of the 19th century that production really took off. Migrants from the Mediterranean island of Corsica was forced into the highlands of Puerto Rico to farm and settling around Yauco they came upon the idea of growing coffee in the high altitude.
By the 1860s they completely dominated the coffee industry and the recognition of the excellence of their coffee in Europe meant premium prices.
However in 1898 two hurricanes hit the island, completely devastating the coffee industry. When the island fell to the United States, which was importing coffee from Brazil and was more interested in developing Puerto Rico's sugar industry, Europe increased its tariffs.
The high cost of Puerto Rico coffee today reflects the ties with the United States due to labor costs and environmental controls.
Puerto Rico coffee shops
With this excellent raw product it is somewhat surprising to find that many coffee shops serve American style filtered coffee.
Look a bit harder though and you can find good coffee - you just need to make sure that the coffee is made in one of those large Italian coffee machines (often made by Gaggia) and ask for Expresso.
If you want to take some good Puerto Rico coffee back home then go to one of the many tourist shops in Old San Juan - you can easily find both the above-mentioned coffees and for a better price you'll find them in the supermarket too.
Return from Puerto Rico coffee to Puerto Rico food and drink
