The Coffee That Connects Us: The People Behind the Beans
Hello Everyone, It’s a beautiful day to be ALIVE!
What makes Hacienda Iluminada truly special isn’t just our specialty Puerto Rican coffee, it’s the humans behind it. Every member of our team carries the DNA that makes this place magical. From the farmers in the fields to the roasters and guides who share our story, each one brings passion, tradition, and pride into every step of the Hacienda Iluminada experience. When you join our coffee tour, you’re meeting a family, and for that day you will be a part of ours.
-If it’s good for EARTH it’s GOOD for YOU
Gabriela: The Tour Guide Who Serves Our Story
The moment you step into Hacienda Iluminada Gabriela, is the first face you’ll see at our coffee tours. She is a passionate and knowledgeable guide who bridges the gap between our farm and YOUR EXPERIENCE. Gabriela will break down the story of Hacienda Iluminada and serve YOU a complementary cup of the best coffee in Puerto Rico before the tour starts. Her warmth ensures every human that visits feels like a native of Maricao, and more than happy to take photos of your coffee experience in Hacienda Iluminada.
What Gabriela does at Hacienda is:
1. The Host: Gabriela welcomes every guest with a genuine smile and a passion for her work. She's the first person you'll meet, will provide you with the best cappuccinos, YUM, and her enthusiasm is contagious!
2. The Storyteller: She guides you through the coffee fields, explains the farm to cup process of planting our seeds to making our delicious medium roast. Making each step of the tour a fully immersive journey.
3. The Creates Community: Gabriela connects our guest with the Hacienda Iluminada family. She introduces you to the farmers behind the specialty coffee beans, helping you understand the immense dedication that goes into every cup of freshly roasted Puerto Rican coffee.
Wanda: The Roaster Who Transforms Green to Golden Brown
Step into Wanda's world, she is our coffee alchemist. Wanda has been with us since the beginning of Hacienda Iluminada in 2014 and is our Master Roaster. She is a professional who approaches her craft like a painter with a canvas. Wanda believes her job is to awaken the story within every hand-picked coffee cherry. Each one has lived through years of sun, rain, and rich volcanic soil before becoming the foundation of Hacienda Iluminada’s signature medium roast. With its dark chocolate depth, bright citrus tones, and buttery finish, this roast leaves our guest saying “WOW that’s the best coffee in Puerto Rico.”
1. The Flavor Alchemist: Wanda carefully adjusts temperatures and times to curate the unique notes of our single-origin Puerto Rican coffee beans, from a light, vibrant profile to a rich, medium roast.
2. The Quality Curator: She checks each batch of freshly roasted coffee. For consistency and quality, ensuring that every bag of Puerto Rican coffee delivered from our farm to our 787 Coffee shops meets her impeccable standards.
3. The Sensory Guide: During our coffee tours, Wanda educates the roasting process, inviting guests to see, hear, and smell the magic as it happens.
Jose: The Guardian of a Living Sanctuary
Meet Jose, our dedicated caretaker of the Hacienda's living sanctuary. He believes that a great coffee farm is about a happy, balanced ecosystem. At Hacienda Iluminada, we have a dedicated mission to protect Mother Earth and all its beautiful creatures that inhabit it. Our farm is home to over 40 species of animals, including some native to Puerto Rico, and a part of our conservation plans.
1. A Safe Haven for Wildlife: Jose ensures the well-being of all the animals at the farm. Animals like goats and horses to the native birds and coquis that call the Hacienda Iluminada home. He is their gentle guardian. By protecting their habitats, we help preserve species that are vital to Puerto Rico's unique ecosystem.
2. A Commitment to Conservation: We are proud to be a USDA Forest Stewardship site, and our animal care is a core part of that commitment. Jose uses natural, sustainable methods, ensuring our farm is a healthy environment for every one of our creature. Our goal is to contribute to the conservation and preservation of native and endangered species, helping to secure a future for Puerto Rico's rich biodiversity.
3. The Welcoming Spirit of the Farm: On our coffee tours, guests get a unique, heartwarming dimension to their experience. Jose loves introducing visitors to our animal family, making the farm feel like a living storybook. You'll see firsthand how we care for our animals and how they contribute to the magical, balanced environment, and maybe get to pet some of our furry friends!
Angel: The Farm Director with a Gentle Touch
Lastly Angel, is the glue that golds it all these moving parts together, Him and Wanda are actually married and not only life partners, but a dynamic duo when it comes down to making the best specialty Puerto Rican Coffee. With a wisdom passed down through generations, he walks the fields knowing exactly what every coffee tree needs. He believes that the soul of our specialty coffee is the way he impacts and connects with his team, and his leadership shines based off the amazing quality coffee we are able to cultivate.
1. The Earth Whisperer: Angel knows the precise moment each coffee cherry is ready to be picked, ensuring only the ripest, most flavorful coffee beans are selected.
2. The Nurturer: He manages the farm's ecosystem, from the soil's health to the shade grown process provided by other trees, ensuring each coffee tree grows strong and healthy.
3. The Storyteller: Angel's knowledge of the farm's history, and its secrets brings our coffee tours to life, sharing a rich heritage that you can taste in every cup of freshly roasted coffee, from Hacienda Iluminada.
Stop waiting! Step into our fields, our roastery, and our story. Tour spots available now! tap on link below
If it’s GOOD for earth, it is GOOD FOR YOU!
Experience the Story Firsthand
The coffee that connects us isn't just about the process. It’s about Angel, Wanda, Jose, and Gabriela. It's about a community bound by a shared passion of specialty coffee. Take a coffee tour and be part of our story. Ready to see the magic for yourself?
Book your tour today and meet the family behind the YOUR favorite Puerto Rican 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!