Revivamos Nuestro Café Marks Success in Reviving Puerto Rico’s Coffee Sector
After Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico’s coffee sector, Revivamos Nuestro Café helped restore production, train over 1,200 farmers, and plant 11 million trees. Stakeholders now celebrate its lasting impact.
San Juan, Puerto Rico (December 3, 2025) – Last month, more than 40 stakeholders gathered at the University of Puerto Rico in Utuado to celebrate the successful close of Revivamos Nuestro Café (Let’s Bring Back Our Coffee), a seven-year initiative implemented by TechnoServe with support from Nespresso, the Colibri Foundation, the Hispanic Federation and the Peter Alfond Foundation.
Launched in the wake of Hurricane Maria, one of the most devastating natural disasters in Puerto Rico’s history, the project set out to help restore a coffee industry that had seen more than 80% of its trees wiped out overnight in 2017. Today, the story of Puerto Rican coffee is one of recovery, resilience, and renewed hope.
“In the wake of Hurricane Maria, we were at risk of losing Puerto Rico’s centuries-old coffee sector. That would have been an incalculable loss–not only for thousands of farming families, but for the whole island,” said Alejandro Marchand, Program Manager at TechnoServe. “But the farmers participating in Revivamos Nuestro Café have charted a different path. Their tenacity and progress point to a stronger, more resilient future for the island’s coffee industry.”
Frankie Miranda, President and CEO of Hispanic Federation, also added,
“That is why we brought together a powerful multisector team to deliver training, resources, and millions of coffee seedlings to thousands of determined farmers. Technoserve was an essential member of that team, leading strategic capacity-building programs that strengthened sustainable agriculture in Puerto Rico. As we continue our work, we are confident that the impact of the collaborative effort we see today will continue growing for years to come.”
Since 2018, the program has trained more than 1,200 coffee farming households in regenerative agriculture practices, with 77% of those households reporting increased yields since the program began. Over the past seven years, approximately 11 million new coffee trees have been planted with support from project partners.
At the closeout event, farmers shared stories of rebuilding their farms and their futures. Among them was Cesar Batista, from Adjuntas, who lost almost everything when the hurricane hit. Instead of giving up, he worked with project trainers to bring his farm back to life. “Most farmers expect handouts from an organization,” said Mr. Batista. “Your case was different; you offered training and knowledge, and as many farm visits as we needed to solve our challenges. In the end, that was much more valuable.” Wilfredo Bermudez, another farmer from Utuado, shared a similar experience, “In the beginning, I did not believe in the benefits of shade trees or erosion control,” he recalled, “But the trainers were patient with me and convinced me to try new things. Now I can see the benefit on my farm, and I’m grateful for it.”
The project also supported nine wet mills supplying Nespresso AAA coffee to improve quality and sustainability, enabling local coffee access to premium markets. Meanwhile, the Coffee Farm College program trained over 900 students, nearly half of them girls, to prepare the next generation of farmers.
“We are honored to have supported the revival of Puerto Rico’s coffee industry after the devastation caused by hurricane Maria and played a helping hand in re-introducing consumers to this exceptional coffee. Now, seven years on, we see coffee production on the island is thriving thanks to the dedication of farmers and partners. Every cup of Cafecito de Puerto Rico brings a taste of heritage and hope to coffee lovers.” Added Jerome Perez, Head of Sustainability at Nespresso
The program’s digital learning resources have also played an important role: The Revivamos Nuestro Café YouTube channel, launched to share regenerative practices, has reached over 500,000 views, offering on-demand training content for farmers across the island.
Sustaining the Momentum
As the program concludes, the focus now turns to long-term sustainability. Local institutions are stepping in to carry the work forward. PROCAFE will continue to provide agronomy support and services to farmers, while also incorporating agricultural education into school programs. Quality improvements made at wet mills will help maintain access to high-value buyers, and digital resources will remain freely accessible.
“As we close this chapter, Fundación Colibrí celebrates the dedicated work of TechnoServe and the resilience and determination of Puerto Rico’s coffee farmers.” Added Monica de la Torre, co-founder of the Colibri Foundation and member of TechnoServe’s board of directors. “This program has shown what is possible when we invest in our people—lifting communities, revitalizing industries, and planting the seeds of sustainable change. We are proud to stand with the farmers who are leading Puerto Rico toward a stronger, more hopeful future.”
The event was hosted in Utuado, a symbolic location at the heart of the island’s coffee belt. Farmers, donors, and partners filled the room with energy and emotion,sharing lessons, reaffirming commitments, and celebrating a remarkable turnaround.
Media contact:
New York – HQ – Julieta Ocampo, Senior Communications Specialist at TechnoServe, jocampo@tns.org
About TechnoServe
Founded in 1968, TechnoServe is a leader in harnessing the power of the private sector to help people lift themselves out of poverty for good. A non-profit organization working in around 20 countries, we work with people to build a better future through regenerative farms, businesses, and markets that increase incomes. Our vision is a sustainable world where all people in low-income communities have the opportunity to prosper.
More information at: Twitter @TechnoServe | Facebook @TechnoServe | LinkedIn @TechnoServe
About Nestlé Nespresso SA
Nestlé Nespresso SA is the pioneer and reference for the highest-quality portioned coffee. The company works with more than 150,000 farmers in 18 countries through its AAA Sustainable Quality™ Program to embed sustainability practices on farms and the surrounding landscapes. Launched in 2003 in collaboration with the NGO Rainforest Alliance, the program helps to improve the yield and quality of harvests, ensuring a sustainable supply of high-quality coffee and improving the livelihoods of farmers and their communities.
In 2022, Nespresso achieved B Corp™ certification – joining an international movement of over 7,900 purpose-led businesses that meet B Corp’s high standards of social and environmental responsibility and transparency.
Headquartered in Vevey, Switzerland, Nespresso operates in 93 markets and has 14’000 employees. In 2023, it operated a global retail network of 791 boutiques. For more information, visit the Nespresso corporate website: www.nestle-nespresso.com.
