Puerto Rico
As the 3rd annual Puerto Rican Festival in Manassas approaches June 14, 2025 I figured I would write about this coffee which carries a lofty title if you ask Puerto Ricans themselves…..they are the “Coffee of the Vatican!” As I began to study coffee, my Puerto Rican family would share this with me regularly, along with many other Puerto Ricans. The question many then ask me is why? Upon some basic research, during the 50’s and 60’s the island became the main supplier for the Vatican, especially Alta Grande branded coffee. Puerto Rico was known for that typical Caribbean tradition of mountain grown coffee that was smooth and full tasting. This often occurs due to altitude that helps bring about a smoother cup, that otherwise gets lost in lower grown coffee commercial grade coffee.
Hurricane Maria took a toll on the island in many respects, especially coffee since it can take 3 years for a coffee tree to produce the cherries, which eventually become our coffee when the seeds are extracted from the fruit. However in many respects things are making a comeback and in some respects, they were never hurt. Hacienda Pommarrosa shared with me, due to their altitude and location they experienced minimum issues with the hurricane.
The Puerto Rican tradition of drinking their coffee is café con leche, which in the carribean, evaporated milk is very popular with the coffee, whether it’s brewed in a Moka Pot or a colao cloth filter. Coffee is full flavored but smooth always. Cortadito’s which are similar to a traditional macchiato are traditional served as well if you using an espresso machine for brewing. The 1-2 oz shot of espresso usually receives another ounce of steamed milk and sometimes sugar to your liking.
Most of all when you are enjoying your coffee, you are usually enjoying loud, vibrant flavorful conversations lol. As I write this, I think about how I need to do this next time I visit my step mom in Charlotte, North Carolina. I’m going to bring my moka pot and milk frother, and we’re going to have coffee that she hasn’t experienced in decades. Often I just mail her some bags for her birthday and mother’s day. As always, it’s the point of the cultural experience, to connect with those familial moments, that bring comfort in what is sometimes a challenging world. I invite you to come share this experience sometime. Whether you visit one of the coffee farms I have spoken of, or you come to a location I sell from. If you want something even more personal, a visit to my garage. I always hope to share these accommodations if the circumstances allow. Most of all I’m looking forward to meeting all the local Puerto Ricans at the festival in Manassas and sharing their traditions with all of the others who simply love the culture.
Driving to the coffee farm in Ponce, beautiful view.