The Hands That Harvest: A Look at Our Coffee Farm in Puerto Rico
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Before 787 Coffee began its journey to New York, Texas, and New Jersey, our story started on the highest mountaintops of Maricao, Puerto Rico. Where the volcanic soil is fertile, the air is crisp and clean, and the hearts of our hardworking farmers tell the story of Puerto Rico through every hand-picked, specialty coffee bean. To us, coffee is a promise of authenticity, sustainability, and pride in where we come from.
The Origin Story of Hacienda Iluminada
Our journey to becoming a specialty coffee farm began in 2014, in Maricao. located on the west side of Puerto Rico, in the Central Mountain Range. It's known as "La Ciudad del Café" (The Coffee City) because of its rich history with coffee agriculture, but unfortunately also known for its high unemployment rate due to a long decline in farming. Motivated by the desire to reconnect with our community, we acquired a small, abandoned coffee farm. It was love at first sight the land was beautiful, but overgrown and abandoned. All it was missing was a vision to bring it back to LFE.
We met with the mayor of Maricao and, together, we made a promise: to give the community a fresh start. We acquired the land under the condition to hire local farmers, many of whom had coffee-growing traditions passed down through generations. There was no hesitation we were ready to take on this mission, and not long after named the farm Hacienda Iluminada, or "the enlightened farm." We knew it was going to symbolize a new beginning filled with hope and light for the future of Puerto Rican coffee.
The Resilience of Our Community: The Impact of Hurricane Maria
Just three years after we opened, the promise of new beginnings was tested by the devastation of Hurricane Maria. The storm tore through the Puerto Rico in 2017, and the impact on agriculture in Puerto Rico was catastrophic. Coffee farms were hit particularly hard, with many losing up to over 90% of their coffee trees. Our farm was no exception. Millions of hearts were broken, and in that moment we needed to plant new seeds of hope for the citizens of Maricao.
One morning some days after the storm, we received a call from one of our farmers, his voice was trembly, and you can feel the lump in his throat through his voice. "When are you opening back up?" he asked me, filled with desperation. I knew this wasn't just a question about a job, it was a NEED for survival. He went on saying “I lost my home, and I’m struggling to find money to buy diapers for my newborn baby.”
It was in that moment that our passion project transformed into the very heart and soul of 787 Coffee. We were no longer just a coffee farm; we were a lifeline.
Through resilience, love, and empathy we vowed to make shIT happen, and rebuild Hacienda Iluminada stronger than ever. We understood what it meant to be for humans, by humans, and with every step, our purpose was clear: to provide stability for our community, and illuminate the lives of the farmers in Maricao.
Direct Trade: The 787 Coffee Model
Our experience after the storm solidified our unwavering commitment to a direct trade model. Unlike traditional coffee supply chains that use multiple middlemen, we are in control of every step of the process, from planting the seeds to distributing them to our 787 Coffee shops. This means that every single coffee bag of 787 Coffee you buy, whether online or at one of our coffee shops, directly contributes to the livelihoods of our farmers in Maricao.
This model allows us to pay our team a living wage, significantly higher than market rates. Ensuring our farmers to have the money to provide for their families and take care of their children, not repeating history and making sure all our farmers have the money for any emergency.
We also have ongoing projects at Hacienda Iluminada that provide stable, year-round jobs. This empowers the local community and we are able to give a greater portion of the final price directly back to the hardworking hands that harvest our single origin coffee beans.
When you choose our single origin Puerto Rican coffee, you’re not just getting the best coffee; you're helping to build the economy in Puerto Rico and sustain the humans who make our coffee specialty.
The Roasting Process: 787 Coffee Secret to Flavor
After our farmers hand-pick the ripe coffee cherries, the journey from our farm to your cup continues through a magical, three-part roasting process that is crucial to the quality and flavor of our freshly roasted Puerto Rican coffee.
Small Batch Farming: At Hacienda Iluminada, we are a small-scale farm. This allows us to meticulously control every aspect of the coffee's growth. We know each plot of land intimately, ensuring every coffee cherry reaches its full potential.
The Honey Process: Unlike a traditional washed process, we use the honey process, where the coffee cherry's sweet pulp is left on the coffee bean during drying. This natural sugar caramelizes in the sun, developing rich, deep flavor. This process is the key to the unique flavor notes of coffee with dark chocolate, citrus, and butter.
The Medium Roast: We finish with a perfect medium roast. This is the sweet spot that brings out the best of the honey process. It’s light enough to highlight the natural citrus and fruity notes from the honey process, but dark enough to introduce rich, balanced flavors of dark chocolate and butter.
Your Cup, Our Story
Coffee has completely changed the lives of so many humans in the community of Maricao. At 787 Coffee, we’re proud to share not just our specialty coffee, but the powerful story of the humans and resilience behind it. We don’t just want to make the best coffee, we want to impact and change lives. every hand pick coffee bean comes back to our ptomise with the mayor. We make coffee to rebuild our community, and illuminate hope. It’s the story of Hacienda Iluminada. Thank YOU for being part of the journey.
Support local agriculture. Every bag you buy helps sustain our farm.
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Be a NuevaYOL Caffeinated Human.
To summarize…
Freshness is Everything. Unlike commercial coffee bags that lose flavor and health benefits from sitting on shelves, 787 Coffee is a freshly roasted, single-origin product. This commitment to freshness avoids rancid oils and muted flavors, ensuring you get the most vibrant and healthiest cup possible.
2. Our Farm-to-Cup Difference. We cut out the middlemen by owning our farm, Hacienda Iluminada, in Puerto Rico. This direct-trade model guarantees fair wages for our farmers and supports the local community, while our sustainable practices ensure we produce the highest quality coffee.
3. Experience the True Flavor of Coffee. Through our meticulous honey process and a light medium roast, we bring out the natural notes of our beans—like dark chocolate, citrus, and a buttery finish. This attention to detail allows you to taste a true, single-origin coffee experience that you simply can't get from mass-produced brands.
