Puerto Rican coffee

[Texasmujer]

Noe, the Puerto Ricans really know how to make and drink their coffee!! My mother is Puerto Rican, and this is how they drink their coffee, and they drink it endlessly: half of the cup is coffee; the other half is milk. To this they add several teaspoons of suger. This makes a really sweet, but flavorful cup of coffee. Then again, they have their own brand of coffee, and maybe that is why it is so good. Their coffee is really a dessert. Just thought you'd like to know how others drink their coffee...Texasmujer

[HollyElise]

mmmm. It's nice to come in here and smell coffee!

[gicco]

Coffee was introduced to the "New World" in 1723 to the Caribbean Island of Martinique by a Frenchman. It is said, to be the primary source of most if not all of today's Arabica bean coffee trees in the New World. Shortly thereafter, in 1736, it was brought into the island of Puerto Rico, because of the ideal geographical location, soil conditions, mountainous terrain and unique soil conditions favorable for growing coffee. It soon became a major export produce to Europe, and one of the most important cash crops on the island. Eventually, Puerto Rico developed into one of the worlds most important producers of fine coffee, a status which it lost, after the devastation of its coffee crop by several major hurricanes. Nonetheless, Puerto Rican Coffee cultivation and production has flourished and is heavily treasured by many people around the world. A cup of Puerto Rican Coffee has been sold in exclusive hotels in Japan for up to $100 a cup.
For more Puerto Rican Coffee visit http://www.gicco.com/coffee/prcoffeehistory.htm

[Texasmujer]

Gicco...The history of Puerto Rican coffee is very interesting! Thanks for the info; like I said, my mother is PUerto Rican; we just drink the stuff, and it is GOOD, but I'm not sure I'd pay $100 a cup! Slainte

[gicco]

Although coffee is one of Puerto Rico's greatest patrimony, most Puerto Rican's are not that knowledgeable about good coffee qualities. Puerto Rican coffee is taken for granted by the local population. There are few coffee connoiseurs in Puerto Rico, the general public drinks a little, albeit strong, coffee with a lot of milk (i/4 cup coffee to 3/4 cup boiled milk. An ideal latte connoiseur would bring the milk to almost boil and whip by pouring back and forth or ladleing with a large spoon to volumize the milk, like my grandmother used to do. The art has been somewhat lost in Puerto Rico and most people boil the milk which causes the separation of fat, creating the undesired 'nata' floating on top (fatty fim floating on top of boiled milk. "Cafe con leche" (latte or coffe with milk), and fresh baked bread, were once the typical breakgast in Puerto Rican homes and a light breakfast. Remember ideally, bring the milk almost to boil, ladle it until it increases in volume and even froths a bit, then add very strong coffee 1:3, add sugar to taste and serve with fresh baked bread, butter and a slice of Holland's famous round Gouda cheese, "Queso de Bola".

[Texasmujer]

Oh...Gicco...How do U know so much aboout Puerto Rico...how they drink their coffee? Just reading your post made me REALLY, REALLY 'homesick' for Puerto Rico, my Mom, and the life there...DARN!! And here I am...in Beaumont, Texas!

Have you lived there? The descriptions---that is EXACTELY how they/we eat 'pan' and drink 'cafe'; oh, and just writing about this makes me want it SO BADLY!!
I was so unaware that I missed it so.

[gicco]

Thank you!!!

Well i just happen to live in Puerto Rico, where I have always had my permanent residence. I went to scool on the mainland and abroad, because my father was a carreer military man.

I have a coffee business online, http://www.gicco.com , and ship Puerto Rican Coffee worldwide. to people who have tasted our great coffee and have fallen in love with it.

In my website you can see pictures of San Juan and other places of interest in Puerto Rico.

Best regards,