Coquito Latte: Why This Puerto Rican Holiday Drink is Perfect Year-Round
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Hello Caffeinated Humans!
If you’ve ever sipped coquito during the holidays in Puerto Rico, you know it’s a celebration in a mug! Creamy, coconut-rich, and warmly spiced, coquito is the island’s answer to eggnog.
At 787 Coffee we, wanted to bring the flavors of the island and spirit of our traditions to the world that we’ve developed this signature drink with a twist.
We have transformed this holiday treat to an all year coffee favorite! This is the story behind our Coquito latte.
-Let’s Do This!
The History of Coquito: A Puerto Rican Treasure
The story of coquito is a beautiful blend of cultures. It begins with the arrival of the Spanish in Puerto Rico, who brought their beloved holiday eggnog with them. But the people of the island, used the available resources they had to the island, and instead of copying they created a complete new drink of their own.
Instead of heavy dairy and brandy, they looked to the heart of the island's and looked for what was plentiful: creamy coconut, rich sugarcane rum, and aromatic spices like cinnamon and nutmeg.
It was a transformation, an adaptation that turned a European tradition into something uniquely Puerto Rican. This "little coconut" drink, as its name translates, was born from a creative and resourceful spirit.
By the early 20th century, coquito had earned its place at the center of the Christmas table. It wasn't just a drink; it was a ritual. Grandmothers, or abuelas, each had their own secret recipe, a carefully guarded treasure passed down to their grandchildren. These recipes were a source of pride, and every family's coquito had its own signature. Maybe a little more vanilla, a hint of ginger, or a stronger kick of rum.
The true magic of coquito, however, came alive during parrandas. These impromptu Christmas caroling parties were a cornerstone of the holidays, where friends and family would travel from house to house, singing and dancing. When they arrived, the host would welcome them with music, food, and, of course, a fresh batch of their family's coquito.
Sharing a glass of the creamy, spiced drink became a symbol of warmth and community, a way to connect and celebrate the season together. In this way, coquito became the taste of Christmas, a liquid story of family, tradition, and the joyful pride of Puerto Rico.
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787 Coffee's Unique Take on a Classic
We love tradition, but we also love innovation. At 787 Coffee, we wanted to honor the spirit of coquito while giving it a modern twist. Our Coquito Latte is a tribute to our tradition, combined with a passion for the future.
Instead of adding traditional rum, we did something unique. We created a special coffee bean with the very essence of coquito infused into it. Our Rum-Infused coffee beans is a play on the amazing flavors of Puerto Rico combining of our single-origin Mexican coffee that has notes of smoky cinnamon and dark chocolate. Infused with a hint of rum that evaporates after 48 hrs which evaporates leaving it non-alcoholic. It's the same magic that makes our coquito sauce so special, now infused directly into the coffee itself.
This innovative approach has made our Coquito Latte one of the most sought-after "wow" drinks at our 787 locations. This latte will transport you. One sip and you're no longer in a coffee shop. You're walking in the streets of San Juan, celebrating the holidays with every rich, creamy, and spicy note. It’s a taste of Puerto Rican Christmas, made for the world.
Don't just drink our coffee live the story!
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A Taste of the Tropics, All Year Round
While coquito has always been the star of a Puerto Rican Christmas, we believe its unique magic shouldn't be limited to just one season. At 787 Coffee, we've liberated this beloved flavor, bringing the spirit of the holidays to you every single day. Our Coquito Latte is a drink for all seasons, proving that a little bit of tropical warmth is always a good idea.
Whether you're cozying up with a hot Coquito Latte during a chilly winter morning or enjoying the iced version as a refreshing treat on a hot summer day, this drink adapts perfectly to any mood or moment. It will be so good that you will say FUCK vanilla latte,
An Unforgettable Flavor Journey
Every sip of our Coquito Latte is a journey for the senses, a symphony of flavors. This is what it entails.
The Creamy Coconut Base: This is the heart of the drink, a foundation that is both tropical and comforting. It’s the flavor that instantly connects you to the Caribbean.
Warm Spices: A perfect mix of cinnamon and nutmeg adds a cozy, aromatic warmth that evokes memories of holiday gatherings and family traditions.
787 Coffee's Rum-Infused Bean: The secret to our unique twist. Our single-origin Mexican coffee beans are infused with a subtle, smoky cinnamon and dark chocolate notes.
Together, they create a drink that’s unforgettable. Perfect with one of our delicious chicken empanadas and quesitos!
make sure you order when you visit one of our coffee shops.
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How to make Ice Coquito Latte
Step 1: Grind Up the Magic
Begin by grinding your coffee beans, if not grounded, we recommend you using our MOST popular Rum infused coffee beans! it is a single origin specialty coffee bean from Mexico that has smokey cinnamon and dark chocolate notes
This is the ultimate combo with the coquito sauce, and you can get the full 787 specialty coffee shop experience at home!
Step 2: Dial in the Grind
Make sure your grinder is set to a fine espresso setting. You want your grind to feel a little like powdered sugar. get your portafilter and get those grinds!
(787 Baristas use 17.5 of Grounded coffee)
Too coarse = watery espresso. Too fine = bitter. Just right? Chef’s kiss
Step 3: Pack It Down
Once your coffee grounds are in the portafilter, it’s time to tamp!
If you have a manual tamper gently apply 30 lbs of pressure of the coffee down with your tamping tool until it’s nice and flat. Not too hard, not too soft, but just right.
Have your portafilter leveled on a table, and when you pressed down. Make sure your arm is making a right angle to push down on portafilter
AVOID USING WRIST AT ALL TIMES
Now lock the portafilter into your espresso machine, hit the extraction button, and let the magic happen!
Step 4: Extract Your Espresso
Start extracting a double shot of espresso, of your favorite coffee
At 787 coffee out double shot of espresso is (50 ml)
Step 5: Add That Coquito Sauce
Pour 30 ml of our homemade Coquito sauce into a jigger or a tiny measuring glass
If you have neither of those appliances (30 milliliters (ml) is roughly equivalent to 2 tablespoons)
Step 6: Stir it up
Find your favorite cup, and pour in your espresso (Soooo YUMY).
Pour your Coquito sauce over the espresso, then find either a straw, utensil, or anything long enough to mix the coquito sauce and espresso.
Once it it poured you can swirl your cup around to mix the espresso.
(Swirl it 5 times)
Let the aromas and creama integrate harmoniously to release the best flavors
Step 7: Ice, Ice Baby
After that fill your glass half full of ice. To keep it at a cool refreshing temperature, and leaving enough room to mix your milk
Step 8: Pick Your Milk, Make It Yours
Finally it’s, all coming together! select YOUR choice of either dairy or non-dairy milk. Pour it into your cup and fill it to your liking
Step 9: The Final Act
Lastly either with your straw or utensil give your latte that final mix and Taa Daa! watch how the ingredients come together to create a delicious coquito latte. Hope YOU enjoy!
A Liquid Postcard from Puerto Rico
Imagine a journey to Puerto Rico without leaving your seat. That’s what our Coquito Latte offers. It’s a sensory postcard delivered in a cup, each sip a new chapter in the story of the island.
The aroma of cinnamon and nutmeg instantly evokes the festive spirit of the holidays, while the smooth, creamy texture and hint of tropical coconut transport you to our beaches.
The finish, with its notes of rich chocolate and smoky coffee, is a reminder of the fertile mountains of Maricao, where our beans are grown.
It’s a complete experience, a delicious escape that allows you to feel the warmth, the culture, and the unforgettable flavor of Puerto Rico, all in one extraordinary drink.
☕ 5 lbs of Specialty Puerto Rican Coffee
Fresh roasted, single origin beans from Hacienda Iluminada in Maricao.
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To summarize…
If you're after the best coffee shop in NYC, El Paso, Puerto Rico, Westfield NJ and soon in Houston, TX for back-to-school success, and want to buy coffee online that's fresh, sustainable, and full of flavor—look no further than 787 Coffee. We're student-friendly, community-focused, and coffee-obsessed.
Ready to crush your school year? Visit one of our amazing coffee shops, or start powering up your brain by ordering our whole bean coffee and ground coffee at 787coffee.com today!
Let’s do this!
Be a CAFFEINATED HUMAN.
Be a creative human. Be a good human.
Be a NuevaYOL Caffeinated Human.
So here’s your invitation—to live fully, love deeply, and drink damn good coffee while you’re at it.
When you visit Puerto Rico, make sure one of your must-do experiences is exploring Hacienda Iluminada, our award-winning coffee farm in Maricao. It’s more than a farm—it’s the birthplace of 787 Coffee and the heart of everything we do. Come walk the rows of coffee trees, sip coffee roasted just steps from where it was grown, meet our animals, reconnect with nature, and learn the real story behind your daily cup. We started as coffee farmers with nothing but a dream and a machete. And when your vision is clear and you're aligned with love and purpose—everything else follows.
Let your next cup be more than caffeine. Let it be a reminder to slow down, breathe deeply, and enjoy life.
Hacienda Iluminada isn’t just one of the best coffee farms in Puerto Rico—it’s where passion meets purpose, and where your coffee journey comes full circle.
☕ Visit Hacienda Iluminada – Puerto Rico’s Must-See Coffee Experience
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