Educational Partnerships: Universities and Research at Hacienda Iluminada
Buenos Dias Everyone!
We see it as our duty to educate and empower our community, and we've transformed Hacienda Iluminada into a living classroom to do it. We believe that knowledge and collaboration are the keys to a sustainable future for specialty coffee and our Earth.
This belief drives our strong educational partnerships with universities, researchers, and students. Together, we are improving agriculture while protecting the earth, creating a tangible impact that benefits the local community of Maricao and all of Puerto Rico.
-If it’s good for EARTH it’s GOOD for YOU
Building Bridges with Universities
Our collaborations with universities create opportunities for students and researchers to experience coffee production firsthand. Our farm provides a unique outdoor laboratory where they can learn tangible skills, from techniques like shade planting to basic coffee education.
These partnerships give students from local Puerto Rican universities the opportunity to apply their learning to real-world challenges, such as differentiating between Arabica and Robusta beans, helping to cultivate the next generation of agricultural leaders right here on the island.
Research Projects on Sustainability
Sustainability is at the heart of every project we host. Through joint research programs with universities, our team explores areas such as soil health, water management, and climate resilience. A key focus is on developing drought-tolerant varieties and natural methods to combat diseases like coffee rust, which pose a major threat to coffee trees worldwide.
To combat the effects of drought, we have focused on two methods. First, our agroforestry system acts as a natural shield, with the native trees creating a canopy that reduces direct sun exposure and slows water evaporation from the soil. The deep roots of these trees also help the soil retain moisture, providing a more stable environment for our coffee tress.
Second, our commitment to regenerative farming practices helps us actively restore the land. We do this by increasing organic matter in the soil, using natural compost made from recycled coffee pulp and planting cover crops to protect the ground. This process creates healthy, living soil that acts like a sponge, allowing it to absorb and hold more water for our plants during drier periods. This not only makes our farm more resilient to drought, but it also creates the nutrient-rich environment that allows our coffee plants to truly thrive, resulting in a healthier, more flavorful coffee bean.
Together, we study how to balance productivity with environmental stewardship, ensuring that our farming practices contribute positively to the local ecosystem and the broader agricultural community in Puerto Rico.
Student Exchange and Training Programs
We welcome students from around the world to participate in immersive learning experiences. These programs are vital for developing a global exchange of knowledge while cultivating the next generation of farmers and agricultural leaders in Puerto Rico.
Students gain practical skills, from regenerative farming techniques to precise cupping protocols, while also sharing their own cultural and academic perspectives. By giving students from Puerto Rico hands-on training, we empower them with the skills needed to contribute to the renaissance of the island’s coffee industry. Our programs help grow and strengthen the coffee community as a whole.
Advancing Agricultural Research Initiatives
As a team of farmers dedicated to pioneering agricultural research, we provide the hands-on space and resources for studies that shape the future of coffee. While Arabica has long been the gold standard for specialty coffee, its vulnerability to a changing climate and diseases is creating scarcity.
This is why a key part of our work is dedicated to researching Robusta coffee. Unlike Arabica coffee that needs more specific conditions to grow, Robusta is a naturally a resilient coffee plant. Our research initiatives focus on studying its genetic diversity, with the goal of developing new varieties that not only sustain in challenging conditions but also possess the complex flavor profiles desired by the specialty coffee community.
The discoveries we make on our farm ripple through the industry, providing critical data that helps local farmers in the Maricao region and beyond adapt to these challenges. Our work directly supports the livelihoods of rural communities by providing them with the knowledge and tools they need to secure a sustainable future.
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If it’s GOOD for earth, it is GOOD FOR YOU!
Knowledge Sharing and Community Impact
Education is a two-way street. We believe in not only hosting research but also sharing that knowledge with local farmers and our community in Maricao. We translate complex academic findings into practical, accessible information through our workshops.
Our vision is to share this knowledge so others can adopt more sustainable and profitable practices. Our partnerships create a positive economic impact, providing educational and work opportunities that help to build a stronger, more resilient community for everyone involved.
Knowledge Is Power
Education a huge contributing factor for which we have been running the farm for 11 . Through university collaborations, sustainability research, and global student exchanges, we’re shaping the next chapter of specialty coffee. Every study and every student represents a step toward a brighter, more resilient future for the agricultural community of Maricao and all of Puerto Rico.
Ready to see our work in action? We invite you to explore our educational initiatives and discover how knowledge can change the future of coffee.
-We hope to see YOU SOON!
Experience the Best! Visit Puerto Rico’s Premier Coffee Farm!
Come see the Maricao Mountains for yourself. Walk through volcanic soil, listen to the springs that feed the farm, and taste coffee grown with integrity. Whether you’re here for a tour or to take home a bag, Hacienda Iluminada offers a taste of Puerto Rico you’ll never forget.
From our hands on Hacienda Iluminada to your cup, 787 Coffee is on a mission to redefine what it means to drink Puerto Rican coffee.
We grow every single bean ourselves.
We practice real sustainable farming—no greenwashing, just love for the land.
Every sip you take supports local farmers, protects our forests, and keeps our coffee legacy alive for the next generation.
Ready for the trip of a lifetime? Come to Maricao. Walk the fields. Smell the fresh-roasted beans. Feel the heartbeat of Puerto Rico in every single cup.
👉 Ready to taste the tradition? Book your unforgettable Hacienda Iluminada coffee tour today at HaciendaIluminada.com!