Café Gran Batey — Restaurant in Utuado

My wife called a couple of days in advance to let them know we would be coming and the owner told my wife that they would be open on the day (Wednesday) that we were coming. We called again before we took the over two hours to get there and nobody picked up (which was fine since they were still closed and did not open until 11 am, left message with our number). Drove through narrow and horrible conditioned roads to get there, even sliding off the side of the road slightly due to us and another car trying to occupy the one car width road, get there 15 minutes before they opened and called again, but no answer (left message again with our number). As we sat outside the closed gate, a neighbor walked through a path around the gate to enter the property. Shortly after when the farm was supposed to be open, she came back out through the same gate. I asked if the farm was opened because we left a message and have not received a call back. She said she would call the same number we called, except they answered the phone her. She told them we were outside the front gate. She then told us that they were on their way to open the gate then she left. 15 minutes later, nobody came to the gate yet so we called and left a message again. Another 15 minutes later we repeated the process and no answer again. I was there for over 45 minutes and not even the decency to call us back or open the farm KNOWING that we were outside the closed gate. Don't waste your time taking the long and dangerous drive out there even if they post or tell you that they will be open, because they may not open it...

Wonderful experience. Small coffee plantation run by the husband and wife team of Bernardo and Lotti. Lotti gave us the tour (in Spanish) which was fine since my wife and I are both bilingual but just be aware of this if you don't speak Spanish. Also, you need to make a reservation ahead of time for a tour.

Lotti showed us and explained the coffee plant, the beans, the machines and process they use and at the end, a sample of the coffee which for my taste, was the best one from other haciendas. I ended up buying a few bags of their whole beans which are at a great price for the quality and being 100% grown on their mountainous land.

Lotti made us feel as if we visited a family member in PR and for that, the experience...

Family run coffee plantation. The old man is a retired government agronomist who also grew up on his plantation and came back to run this place. Michigan State University has resident researchers on this plantation. A very personal guided walking tour was scheduled for us the day before and is my favorite Puerto Rico memory so far. Coffee is shaded by orange trees which adds great flavor to the coffee. Beans are sun dried and lovingly roasted. Don't even ask for a dark roast, that burnt stuff doesn't fly here. Bought four pounds of coffee and will order more on return to Indianapolis. Best tasting coffee ever. Love these people and this place in the Lares mountains with a view of sacred Taino mountain, very near the...