The Best Coffee in Puerto Rico
Yeah, that’s right. I said it. I am going to lay claim to the best coffee in Puerto Rico.
Before I tell you that Cafe Rico makes the best whole bean coffee, I need to set the foundation of what kind of coffee drinker I am. Here is a shot;
- I would prefer no coffee at all to gas station coffee
- If three cups in a row doesn’t give me the jitters, it’s not worth my time
- Adding a table spoon of sweetened condensed milk should only slightly lighten the color
- Whole coffee beans should be oily
- The best coffee is brewed in a French Press
Ok, with that said, if you are a Maxwell house drinker or don’t mind gas station coffee (in the middle of Texas), my claim of the best coffee in Puerto Rico probably isn’t one you need to pay attention to.
Cafe Rico Espresso 100% Cafe Puro En Grano” (whole bean coffee) is absolutely the best coffee in Puerto Rico. It is roasted on the South Coast of Puerto Rico in Ponce and a one pound bag costs about $6.
I’ve tried to like all the locally grown and roasted organic coffee beans but they are all super expensive and I haven’t found one that could stand up to the bold flavor and kick in the ass caffeine buzz a cup of French Pressed Cafe Rico will give you.
I buy Cafe Rico at the Econo grocery store in Rincon and I am guessing it can be found in any grocery store around Puerto Rico. Here is a picture of the bag for your reference.
Cafe Rico - The Best Puerto Rican Coffee
November 12th, 2010 at 7:01 pm
man, I can’t wait to wake up and have some coffee.
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November 12th, 2010 at 7:14 pm
Do you ship? lol I hate “gas station coffee (in the middle of Texas)”
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November 12th, 2010 at 7:23 pm
it appears as though the best coffee is grown on and around the same latitude line; puerto rico at 18 and hawaii at 19 and jamaica at 18 all with the perfect environment for growing beans.
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November 12th, 2010 at 10:20 pm
My grandmother love “cafe rico” we live in Orocovis! Btw I really like your blog. You guys have a lot of info about Rincón!
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November 13th, 2010 at 6:15 am
What a coincidence. Here in NJ a new grocery store opened called “C-town”, and yesterday I got “El Coqui” Puerto Rico coffee packaged in Hoboken, NJ, it’s great! I am sitting at the computer now trying to find out where in PR it is produced when I read your blog. I wish we could get Cafe Rico here, it is wonderful!!!! Wil
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November 14th, 2010 at 3:12 pm
Nice article Stefan. I brought a few boxes of Puertorican coffee with me back to the states a few months ago. Haven’t tried the one you mentioned. I just finished the regular Cafe Rico. My favorite so far has been CAFE D’AQUI. Darker and stronger. I got at Walmart in Ponce. My dad loves it.
Enjoy your cup and cheers. David.
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November 16th, 2010 at 7:32 am
don’t you like Café Mami?
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November 17th, 2010 at 3:25 pm
what, no picture of dark, sexy, oily beans?
‘that’s A’LOT o Beans!’
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November 18th, 2010 at 12:47 pm
Hey Stefan, No hay mejor cafe que el cafe de PR!! I hate to tell Will that PR does not export coffee so the Cafe Coqui he’s drinking in NJ is not PR cofee. Carol, I loved cafe Mami – bought at the trusted Econo in Rincon along with other locally produced brands not found in San Juan.
Great site; we bought an apartment in Rincon and love to see how you and your family are doing. Granted, a house is a whole different story but it is still inspirational.
Thanks everyone for sharing valuable tips about life in Rincon.
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November 19th, 2010 at 5:19 am
I love it too Arnaldo! I like strong coffee and Café Mami is the one for me.
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November 22nd, 2010 at 4:56 am
What kind of grinder do you use? I’m also a French Press user but have been buying Starbucks coffee since they are so convenient – they grind the beans for French Press right there. The coffee I get at the store is ground for drip. I know that grinding just before you brew it is best so I just need to invest on a good quality grinder.
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November 22nd, 2010 at 10:16 am
The best coffee grinder for a French Press is the Krups grinder. It is perfect for grinding enough beans for 3 or 4 cups…but not much more than that.
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December 8th, 2010 at 12:52 pm
If you ever travel between Comerio and Barranquitas, stop at any “colmado” and ask for cafe “Puya y Prieto” (means sour and black). It is made from the local coffee beans around Barranquitas.
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December 14th, 2010 at 7:29 am
Will have to try the Rico expresso. We usually bring Coqui back to states with us. Coming down New Years Eve this year. Just love the site.
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February 16th, 2011 at 4:15 pm
Try the coffee from Maricao- muy deliciosos:-0
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February 24th, 2011 at 8:55 am
The online store http://www.elcolmadito.com has a Cafe Rico Espresso but not the whole bean
Maybe that could be a good sample for all the coffee drinkers in the US that cannot get Stefano’s winner of “The Best Coffee in Puerto Rico” contest
I wrote “all the coffee drinkers” because although for me, the ride on the street around the Cafe Rico building in Ponce, is priceless (love the smell of coffee) I cannot stand coffee flavor. That is why I rather have a Coke or Pepsi early in the morning to wake me up.
Toodles
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March 1st, 2011 at 5:19 am
I try it when I’m in Rincon next. I’m an espresso drinker and pretty serious about it. I go to Banana Dank and Surf’s Up (Johnie Sola). They both buy beans locally (what else?). I was at Surf’s Up one day, calibrated the grinder and made some suggestions and the espresso got better – it was self serving because I drink it there.
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March 16th, 2011 at 9:44 am
We have a place in the Parcelas; noisy but funky fun.
However, I think you’re being over charged on the Cafe Rico (which I like too) because coffee is price stabilized in P.R. and the last time I bought it the price was $4.45 in Econo and Supermercado Estela. Also, you might try Cafe Lareno too.
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March 17th, 2011 at 7:15 pm
Try Café Lare~no… they sell it in Rincon’s Econo. It may not be whole bean, but its one if the PR coffee I’ve tried… bold and strong… and this is coming from a Bustelo drinker. Too bad they don’t distribute it in San Juan.
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August 13th, 2011 at 1:15 pm
I would Like to get some cafe-Lare from puerto rico. how can i get my hands on some….thank you
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August 14th, 2011 at 5:37 pm
mmm… coffee! there is something to the ritual of the french press that must be similar to the japanese tea ceremony. there is the process & anticipation that you just cannot get when you hand $$s over to someone at Starbucks! i’ll make my own, thank you! thanks for another addition to this lovely coffee thread
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