As last year, the ‘Expo’ was held at the Puerto Rico Convention Center in
Isla Grande.
To get there, you literally take Highway 1, Expreso Luis Muñoz Rivera like you are going into Old San Juan, 
but right after you cross the bridge next to the lagoon on your right, you take a hard left and loop back across another bridge (with the small boat harbor on your right) to get to the Convention Center. Stay to the right to get to the paid parking. It’s hiding behind the Sheraton Hotel.
This is the most popular route to take.. it’s way too convoluted for me.
Since this was our 3rd or 4th trip to the area, I made all the correct turns without error… That was not true, the first time I tried it.
The Convention Center is one of the most beautiful structures in Puerto Rico. The fountains, the pools and manicured grounds are worth checking out.
This year, the Coffee Expo expanded to include Chocolate. They complement each other perfectly and both are grown here in abundance. So with the name change, the venue has expanded. So much so that the event took out the main hall.
It is at least twice the size it was last year.
The giant coffee cup was back along with a plaque commemorating the fact that they filled it with coffee last year to break the Guinness Record for largest Cup of Coffee, EVER! A popular spot to get your picture taken.
We showed up at exactly the same time we did last year, about 11AM, but there was already a line forming for tickets.
All of the small coffee haciendas were back, along with the big names that were not here last year. The big guys all had big displays too.
Though there were a few chocolate themed vendors at last year’s show, there were lots more this year. Local chocolate makers as well as big names like Godiva and Corte, had product on display. The Loiza booth was impressive… they had real chocolate seed pods. I still want to grow some of that…
In addition to all the vendors listed above, there was a bunch of Artesanos selling their craft and hand work. Some of it I had not seen before like the work by Serafin Rosado.
I really like his graphic style.
The ‘Expo’ had a small booth of it’s own, selling T-shirts for $10 and good sized Arabica Coffee plants for only $3. I really wanted to score a bunch of those, but I’m not ready to plant them just yet. Hopefully, next year.
There was also a small area dedicated to a ‘Puerto Rico Farmers Market’ with vendors selling locally produced products. There was a wonderful display of Puerto Rican produce. Can anyone tell me what the dark red, fuzzy looking berries in the wooden box are? 
I forgot to ask while I was there. A much larger image can be seen over on me Scurvy FaceBook page.
A raised stage with folding chairs for visitors was set up against one wall. Live entertainment included a clown for the kids and live music for later. This was definitely a family affair. There were other costumed entertainers roaming the floor, looking for ‘photo ops’.
Speaking of ‘photo ops’, I talked a guy into letting me photograph his shirt. Turns out, it was an original creation he had done himself. I was impressed.
By the time we left, about an hour and a half later, the place was starting to fill up.
From what I observed, people were buying as well as looking. I saw money changing hands all the time.
All of the ‘coffee making’ vendors had lines.
Costs seemed a little high since you also had to pay for parking. Adults were $6, Seniors were $4 and parking was a flat $6 per car. 
It was still worth it. Especially if you have never been.
This was our 2nd time and I’m sure it won’t be our last.
One point I would like to make. An observation, really. No one was actually roasting coffee on premise. That’s too bad, because I think the aroma of fresh roasted coffee would drive more sales… of everything! Even Starbucks realized taking out the small roasters was a bad idea. It contribute’s to the ambiance. It’s a subliminal message, most folks never think about. 
You can’t buy coffee any fresher than ‘just roasted’, whether it’s true or not.
I wish the Expo group much success…
These two industries need all the help and support they can get.
Puerto Rican coffee and chocolate are every bit as good as any other, if not better.
They should be exporting them to the rest of the world, in a big way! Here is a link to their FaceBook page.
Please Note- There are many more, larger pictures from the Coffee and Chocolate Expo, over on me Facebook page. Check it out!
Arrg!
katrina Kruse says
The little fruits, if they are dark burgandy fuzzy round ones, they call “cherries.” I don’t know the real name. They taste like plums and the texture is similar but there are seeds and that fuzzy skin to contend with. They are watery and don’t make a great juice, don’t dehydrate well and the “bush” ( more like a small tree) has thorns. I wouldn’t recommend planting them. Taste is good but it’s a lot of work unless you just want them for walk-around munching. I do have a small chocolate tree. They need shade in the beginning so plant platanos and guineos around them. They are pollinated by a super small fly that lives in the roots of bananas/platanos. The flowers are no visible. Then you have to ferment the beans to make chocolate and need a lot of pods to get a big enough pile to do that – but very cool… (THANX! S.Dog)