SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Adopted at 4 months old , Don Mateo finds his roots by purchasing a Coffee farm in the mountains of Utuado Puerto Rico in the same area his ancestors once lived. At the time of the purchase during Hurricane Maria, he discovered his biological roots, siblings and his father and three generations of great grandfathers were coffee farmers in the same area.
After several years of hard work Cafe Don Mateo has its first hand processed all natural coffee for sale.
“There were aspects of my heritage veiled in mystery” says Mateo. “Inspired by a friend’s advice and my deepening bond with Puerto Rico, I decided to take a DNA test. The results were astonishing – I had countless relatives on the island. Suddenly, my spiritual connection made perfect sense, echoing the Puerto Rican saying, “La sangre llama” – your blood calls to you. Another Spanish proverb, “A la tercera va la vencida” (The third time is the charm), seemed to hold true.
On my third visit, while hiking through the breathtaking El Yunque rainforest, a place of immense beauty and spiritual significance, I felt an unmistakable call from my ancestors – a call to come home. Looking for a small condo in San Juan lead to finding an abandoned coffee farm.”
This call led to the creation of Cafe Don Mateo, situated on 250 acres in the Utuado mountains of Puerto Rico. The hacienda resides within the subtropical humid forest, just across from the renowned El Yunque rainforest.
The company has earned recognition for its commitment to preserving the forest and its 24 resident bird species. “At Cafe Don Mateo, we cultivate our all natural coffee in the shade, thriving at an elevation of 2,300 feet” says the company. “We take great care in growing and processing our coffee using traditional natural methods, just as his ancestors did, all to offer you the most authentic and exceptional coffee experience possible.”
