What to see and do at the Cafe Gran Batey, Utuado, Puerto Rico
Café Gran Batey is a coffee plantation located in Utuado in the central mountainous region of Puerto Rico.
The plantation sits at an altitude of approximately 2,000 feet above sea level, and is known for producing high-quality coffee beans.
We visited Café Gran Batey with our children and grandchildren. While here, we walked through the coffee plantation, were given a tour of the coffee production process and then enjoyed a cup of fresh ground and brewed coffee with local homemade bread.
Arabica is the main species of coffee grown here. Puerto Rican coffee is smooth and sweet. Coffee was first grown in Puerto Rico in 1736. Utuado was the most prominent site in coffee production before 1898. The island's coffee producing areas are at an elevation range of 2,400–2,780 feet in the western central mountains of the island extending from Rincón to Orocovis.
The history of Café Gran Batey dates back to the early 20th century, when the original owner, Don Manuel Matos, started planting coffee trees on the land. The plantation was passed down through several generations of the Matos family, until it was eventually acquired by its current owner, Marcos R. Matos.
Today, Café Gran Batey produces a variety of coffee blends, including arabica and robusta beans. The coffee is grown using traditional cultivation methods, with an emphasis on sustainable and environmentally-friendly practices. The beans are harvested by hand, and are sun-dried on site to preserve their unique flavor and aroma.
Café Gran Batey also offers tours of the plantation, allowing visitors to learn about the history of coffee cultivation in Puerto Rico and see the coffee-making process in action. The plantation's coffee shop sells a variety of coffee products, including whole beans, ground coffee, and artisanal coffee blends.
Looking for things to do? Viator offers other tours in the area. Click here for details.
We toured the coffee farm with our kids and grandkids and enjoyed a cup of fresh brewed coffee at the end of the tour.
Coffee bean sorting machine which sorts the beans by size so that they cook evenly in the roaster.
Coffee roaster
Roasted coffee beans.
The road to the coffee farm.