Happy Birthday to Our Visionary Co-Founder: Celebrating Sam Sepulveda and love for nature legacy.
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Today, October 8th, is a very special day for the entire 787 Coffee team. We're honored to celebrate the birthday of our incredible co-founder, Sam Sepulveda! On behalf of every barista, every farmer, and every "Caffeinated Human" who enjoys our coffee, we extend our warmest wishes to Sam as he marks this important milestone.
Sam is much more than a co-founder; he's a true pioneer, a dedicated mentor, and the heart of so much that makes 787 Coffee special. From the sky as a captain for United Airlines, to the soil of Hacienda Iluminada, his passion for excellence and profound respect for the land are evident in every single bean.
Sam's Impact: How a Passion for Coffee & Agriculture Shapes Your Cup
What truly sets 787 Coffee apart? It's the unparalleled expertise and relentless dedication of humans like Sam. For coffee lovers who seek quality and sustainability, Sam's contributions are invaluable.
1. The Coffee Master: A Q Grader & CQI Instructor
When we say "specialty coffee," Sam Sepulveda is one of the reasons we mean it. He is a certified CQI Instructor and a highly respected Q Grader and a Post-Harvest Processing Arabica & Robusta Professional . What does that mean for your cup?
Q Grader: Sam is one of the elite few in the world certified to professionally grade and assess the quality of coffee, ensuring our beans meet the highest standards for flavor, aroma, and consistency.
SCA CVA for Cuppers: Sam holds the SCA CVA for Cuppers certification, solidifying his expertise in coffee tasting. This means our coffee isn't just "good"; it's meticulously evaluated for complex flavors like dark chocolate, caramel, and a smooth finish.
This deep knowledge ensures that whether you're enjoying the best latte in our NYC coffee shops, a perfect V60 pour over in El Paso, or brewing our single-origin coffee at home, you're experiencing truly exceptional quality.
2. Pioneering Sustainable & Eco-Friendly Farming at Hacienda Iluminada
Sam's love for agriculture is deeply rooted in our Puerto Rico coffee farm, Hacienda Iluminada. His vision has transformed our farm into a model of sustainability and eco-friendliness.
Contour Planting: Sam introduced innovative contour planting techniques, which significantly reduce soil erosion and improve water retention, protecting the precious ecosystem of our mountains.
Reducing Waste: From repurposing coffee cherry pulp as natural fertilizer to minimizing water usage, Sam champions processes that dramatically reduce waste throughout our cultivation and processing. This commitment is central to our Farm-to-Cup philosophy.
This means every bag of coffee you buy directly supports responsible farming that nurtures the land and future generations.
3. Cultivating Community & Inspiring Excellence
Sam's influence extends far beyond agricultural practices. He instills a culture of learning and passion within the 787 Coffee team. His journey from a captain for United Airlines to a coffee farmer and educator is a testament to his dedication. This commitment translates into:
Expert Baristas: The expertise trickles down, ensuring our baristas craft the best cappuccino and best latte with precision and care in every top cafe.
A Welcoming Vibe: His leadership helps create the warm, inviting community spirit that defines every 787 Coffee shop.
The NuevaYOL is not just a coffee bag.
Award-winning Coffee Shop. #3 NYC. #32 North America and Caribbean 2026.
SCA Design Award nominee. Bad Bunny inspired.
Every bag you buy plants a coffee tree at Hacienda Iluminada, in Puerto Rico
NuevaYOL is a love letter to New York City — written in Puerto Rican,
Mexican, and Colombian beans, roasted fresh, and
shipped directly to your door.
Named for the city where Puerto Rico meets New York,
the NuevaYOL is 787 Coffee's best-selling limited
edition specialty coffee blend. Inspired by Bad
Bunny's NuevaYOL and designed with original artwork
by BrandON Ivan Peña — Co-Founder and CEO of 787
Coffee — this is the bag people buy once and
reorder forever.
WHAT'S INSIDE YOUR BAG:
- Beans from three origins: Puerto Rico, Mexico
and Colombia — each selected for quality,
sustainability, and flavor
- Tasting notes: Rich dark chocolate, Mexican
caramel sweetness, Colombian brightness,
Puerto Rican depth
- Roast: Full body. Bold. Unforgettable
- Format: 8oz whole bean — because freshness
starts with the grind
- Roasted fresh in small batches and shipped
directly to your door — no warehouse,
no middleman, no compromise
WHY IT HITS DIFFERENT:
787 Coffee is officially ranked #32 Best Coffee
Shop in North America and #1 in Puerto Rico by
The World's 100 Best Coffee Shops 2026 — evaluated
by 200+ professional judges and 200,000+ public
votes. The NuevaYOL bag was nominated for Best
Design at the SCA Coffee Design Awards.
Less than 1% of coffee shops in the world own a
coffee farm. We do. Hacienda Iluminada in Maricao,
Puerto Rico is where 787 Coffee began — and the
NuevaYOL carries that story in every bean.
ONE BAG. ONE TREE.
Every NuevaYOL bag you purchase plants one coffee
tree at Hacienda Iluminada — in the highest
mountains of Puerto Rico, the lungs of the island.
Micro Lot 2026. Growing with every order.
🗽 Limited release. Order yours before it sells out.
☕ Free shipping on all USA orders.
🌱 Buy a bag. Plant a coffee tree.
Best coffee to buy online · Best Puerto Rican
coffee · Best coffee bag NYC · Farm to cup coffee ·
Single origin specialty coffee · Best coffee gift
Celebrate with Us!
Today, we honor Sam's unwavering commitment to quality, sustainability, and the profound impact he has had on our team and the entire specialty coffee industry. His vision ensures that our Puerto Rican coffee stands among the best coffee in the world.
Join us in celebrating Sam's birthday!
Shop Online: Experience Sam's dedication directly. Buy our single-origin coffee beans online and taste the difference of true Farm-to-Cup quality.
Visit Our Shops: Find the best coffee shop near me in NYC, El Paso, or Puerto Rico and raise a cup (or a best latte!) to Sam.
Tour Hacienda Iluminada: Sam loves sharing the farm! Book a tour of Hacienda Iluminada in Puerto Rico to see his innovative agricultural practices firsthand and walk the fields where your coffee journey begins.
Happy Birthday, Sam! Here's to many more years of incredible coffee and inspiring leadership!
Sam's commitment to the land and the people at Hacienda Iluminada goes far beyond standard farming. He has introduced several key innovations that ensure the unparalleled quality of our single-origin coffee while building a thriving environment.
First, Sam recognizes that the highest quality comes from a dedicated workforce, which is why he prioritized having a consistent team of humans—our cherished coworkers—who bring generations of expertise and passion to every harvest. Second, he innovated with shade planting, creating a natural canopy that slows the maturation of the coffee cherry, which concentrates flavor and supports a rich, thriving animal ecosystem on the farm. Finally, his ultimate vision is not just a farm, but building an entire eco-system that prioritizes biodiversity, minimizes waste, and ensures every step, from bean to cup, is conducted with respect for nature, making our beans the most sustainably grown and best coffee you can buy.
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Be a CAFFEINATED HUMAN.
Be a creative human. Be a good human.
Be a NuevaYOL Caffeinated Human.
Bring the magic of Puerto Rico wherever you go with our Take Me to Puerto Rico sticker!
This 3x3-inch sticker is perfect for your iPad, computer, mugs, or suitcases, showcasing the vibrant spirit of our beautiful island. Featuring illustrations of classic Puerto Rican culture—quesitos, alcapurrias, sunsets, beachlife, the iconic coquí, and of course, 787 Coffee—this sticker is a tribute to the sights, sounds, and happiness that make Puerto Rico the Island of Enchantment.
Whether you're reminiscing about a tropical vacation or showing off your love for Puerto Rico, this sticker is the ultimate souvenir and statement piece. Brighten your day with a touch of the Caribbean and proudly represent Puerto Rican culture wherever you go!
Perfect for:
- Personalizing your iPad, laptop, or water bottle
- Adding a burst of color to your coffee mugs or suitcases
- Sharing your Puerto Rican pride and love for 787 Coffee
Get your Take Me to Puerto Rico sticker today and carry the island vibes with you!
Ready to Find Your Local 787 Coffee Shop?
Google 787 Coffee and find your nearest location and experience the true Farm-to-Cup journey in your neighborhood.
Can't make it to a shop? Order our coffee beans online and bring the taste of Puerto Rico and the Americas right to your kitchen.
Buy Fresh Coffee online. Specialty coffee, single origin coffee that YOU will enjoy.