787 Coffee

787 Coffee is a vertically integrated, farm-to-cup specialty coffee company co-founded by Brandon Ivan Pena and Sam Sepulveda. The name references the telephone area code for Puerto Rico, paying homage to the company's deep Caribbean roots. In 2014, the pair purchased 103 acres of an abandoned coffee farm at 3,000 feet elevation in Maricao, Puerto Rico, which they named Hacienda Iluminada. Neither had prior experience in agriculture — Pena was a former television host and advertising executive with an MBA from the University of Miami, while Sepulveda is a Puerto Rican native and airline pilot — but they spent two years researching coffee, visiting origins worldwide, and earning certifications before launching the brand. The Williamsburg location at 595 Metropolitan Avenue occupies a 1,200-square-foot space with white walls adorned with vivid local artwork, motivational quotes, natural wood elements, lush greenery, and minimalist decor. A spacious basement level offers additional comfortable seating for guests looking to settle in. The cafe provides free WiFi, ample power outlets at every seating position, and charging stations, making it one of the most work-friendly specialty coffee shops in the neighborhood. What sets 787 Coffee apart from virtually every other cafe in New York City is that they grow, process, and roast their own Arabica beans on their own farm in Puerto Rico. The beans are processed using the honey method — leaving a thin layer of fruit pulp on the bean as it dries on raised African beds — producing distinctive flavor notes of chocolate, butter, citrus, and honey. In September 2017, Hurricane Maria destroyed ninety-seven percent of their crop, but the team rebuilt and has since expanded to over thirty locations across New York City, Puerto Rico, El Paso, and beyond. 787 Coffee has won the People's Choice Award for Best Coffee at the Coffee and Chocolate Expo of Puerto Rico, been named Best Coffee Beans in Puerto Rico for two consecutive years, earned a US Chamber of Commerce CO-100 Top Honoree designation, and received a Google Ads Impact Award. The cafe serves Puerto Rican-inspired pastries including quesitos, coquito rolls, and chicken empanadas alongside classic baked goods.