Top 7 Puerto Rican Coffee Shops
- Claudia Guerrero
- Jan 26, 2018
- 5 min read
Not only can you find some of the world's best beaches in Puerto Rico, but you can also find some of the coziest, most hipster coffee shops right next to those beaches! Puerto Rico is home to a melting pot of culture, from African to Spanish to American, we mix the new with the old and what's ours with the foreign, providing people the most unique, delicious and extraordinary culinary experiences, and coffee is no exception. Everyone loves a great coffee shop, but what makes these coffee shops so special is the fact that they use coffee grown on the island, not only providing premium grade coffee, but also promoting and investing in local products, something the crisis island is in desperate need of. In no particular order, here are seven coffee shops that will inspire you, make you feel at home, and rock your world with an amazing cafecito.
P.S: There are many many many other coffee shops that offer amazing coffee as well but I narrowed it down to these seven shops because of their uniqueness and specialty. Okay, carry on.
1. Punto Medio- Calle Loíza, San Juan


First up on the list, and possibly my favorite, is none other than Punto Medio. This coffee shop is a small and inviting space with some of the warmest people serving you some great coffee. When you walk in you immediately feel at peace, and as soon as that's over, you're looking for a waiter to order your coffee because of how good that first whiff is. It is located on one of the coolest spots in San Juan: La Calle Loíza. Buzzing with energy and a little bit of magic, here you can find the most interesting people eating the most interesting food. Si No Corro Me Pizza, Tresbé, Mere Pescao and El Tap are some of the other spots that you can find in this street, all filled with hipsters, all serving amazing food and beverages. Not only does Punto Medio serve great coffee, but you can also have a delicious breakfast, lunch, or both: brunch, and for a great price. Pay attention to their social media as they have fun events at night time with musical guests and alcohol specials. Great atmosphere, sweetest staff, and great coffee, what more could you ask for?
2. Café Con Cé- Calle Loíza, San Juan


Also on Calle Loíza, (shocker) is Café Con Cé, just one or two blocks away from Punto Medio. Café Con Cé just might be the most aesthetically pleasing coffee shop I've ever been to. Pleasing to the eye and mouth, Café Con Cé also has a cute little shop in which they sell swag like totes and notebooks. The outside patio area looks like it came straight from a movie set, with plants decorating all around the exterior. However please have caution! Or as we Puerto Ricans like to say, OJO! (which means eye in Spanish), Café Con Cé serves pretty strong coffee, so keep that in mind when ordering a cup of Joe in this magical, rustic, and other worldly space.
3. Café Comunión- Ave. Ponce De León, Santurce


After hurricane María, most businesses were closing, some remained closed until further notice, and others simply disappeared. So when I saw that a new coffee shop was opening its doors, tears rolled down my cheeks. The best Christmas present was being able to explore a new and refreshing space after the severe economic depression that María brought to the island. The shop had its great opening December 26, right after Christmas Day. The owners, possibly the cutest couple ever, intended to open the shop at a much earlier date, but then came María and just like everything else on the island, plans changed. Now, nearly a month after it first opened its doors, Café Comunion is never empty. If you have some work to catch up on or if you're a student and have some studying to do, Café Communion offers a great 'work-mode' environment in which you will feel inspired to create, to do, to be, and of course, to drink café!
4. Café Don Ruiz- Cuartel Ballajá, Old San Juan


Want to get transported back in time while you sip on your afternoon cafecito? This coffee shop might win the Best Location Award, as it resides in an old military barracks from when colonizing Spanish troops invaded the island in the 1800's located in of course, Old San Juan. Hidden in one of the structure's corners, there are chairs outside where you can sit and marvel at the ironically beautiful insides of the military building. Here they serve their own harvested coffee that is hand-crafted in the mountains of Yauco over 3,000 ft high, resulting in rich, delicious coffee that explodes in your mouth with flavor. The visuals of the shop are quite interesting as it has a modern vibe on the inside, but step outside and you feel transported back to 1854. Their coffee was certified as specialty coffee by Coffee Cuppers and Coffee Review, so if you're a coffee snob like me, a visit to this enchanting shop is a must.
5. Cuatro Sombras- Old San Juan


Not far from Café Don Ruiz is Cuatro Sombras (four shades in Spanish), a coffee shop that also has an outside patio with beautiful greenery, providing you with a great photo op for your Instagram. Along with yummy sandwiches and some bakery treats, Cuatro Sombras offers some of the best tasting coffee in Old San Juan. It's a great spot to meet up with a friend and grab some lunch or bring your laptop and get to work. Whatever activity you want to accompany your coffee drinking with, Cuatro Sombras is a great choice if you are visiting the magical old city. The shop is located on Recinto street, one of the main streets when you enter Old San Juan, and right next to a parking garage, so it is pretty easy to get to. The shop is warm, cool to look at, and just an overall fun place to hang out at. Once you're in there, you won't want to leave.
6. Gustos Café- Miramar, San Juan


This place is pure art. The elegant detail with which this shop was built is evident in every corner. The place screams beauty. Puerto Rico's most known figures hang out here. From celebs to political candidates, there is a certain sense of importance that you feel as you walk through the doors. Gustos also serves its own coffee, the brand Gustos is distributed throughout supermarkets and other shops in Puerto Rico. Just like Café Don Ruiz, they grow the coffee in the mountains of Yauco, and also offer origin coffee from Lares, Adjuntas, Maricao, Las Marias and other locations, providing a wide variety of options of coffee coming from all around the island. The shop is located right next to a movie theater, Fine Arts Cafe, so it would be a great idea to go for some coffee and a movie right after. There are also two restaurants next to it, so if you want to munch, you know where to go.
7. Cafe Nativo- Collores, Jayuya


A little different than the rest, our tour ends with Cafe Nativo, the coffee shop that is located literally right next to where they grow the coffee they serve. Jayuya is almost two hours away from San Juan, located around the middle, most mountainous region of the island. What makes this place so special is that you can sip on your coffee as you look at the cherries that the very coffee you're drinking came from. Not only does the coffee taste amazing but they have breakfast choices that will blow you away, particularly their waffle selection. This shop also has a mini store where you can buy swag and learn more about their history and how the establishment got started. Oh, and not to mention, you are in the beautiful, lush, green mountains of Puerto Rico! The view is spectacular so if you're looking for a place that offers great service, great coffee, great food, and a beautiful view, load up your gas tank and head over to Jayuya.
What a fantastic guide to Puerto Rican coffee shops! It's amazing how these cafes not only serve delicious coffee but also support local producers. I’d love to visit and try their local brews—especially alongside a cup of PNG Coffee for an added treat!