Porto Rico Importing Co.

REPLY: omg, I came back and I really do love it here. I saw Wes both today and yesterday, and I had a great experience each time. Today, I got a mocha. I appreciate you so much Porto Rico! I love it here! Been before. Everyone there is really nice. I got a hot coffee today, and the only thing is that it was cold, maybe not fresh. It’s my fault for not saying anything. Love the workers and ambiance, just didn’t love the coffee I got today :(

The OG coffee and tea specialty shop in the NYC. We felt overwhelmed with Amazing Aroma once we walked in. They offers so many single origin, specialty blends, and original store owned blends. Just asking for recommendations, their staffs will be happy to suggest a few choices for you to take home.

Porto Rico Importing Co. is, without a doubt, home to the best coffee in NYC. Whether you're a seasoned connoisseur or just starting out, the exceptionally helpful staff will guide you to the perfect bean for your palate. Beyond the top-tier coffee, they offer a wide selection of quality teas and all the brewing equipment you could ever need. Need a quick caffeine fix? They also make excellent coffee orders to go!

Porto Rico Importing Co. is a charming, old-school coffee shop specializing in freshly roasted beans. There are no seats inside, perfect for grabbing coffee to-go. I highly recommend the smooth espresso or their unique Latte. Affordable pricing around $5-10 makes it a must-stop for coffee enthusiasts exploring NYC.

Just an overall fun place to look around and shop if you’re a coffee person. Their matcha latte was really not great but their hot coffee was very aromatic

If you are searching for a true taste of Puerto Rico and Old New York, a visit to a classic Puerto Rican coffee shop like Porto Rico Importing Co. is simply a must. As soon as you step in, the aroma of freshly roasted beans—greets you and instantly sets the stage for an exceptional coffee experience. Whether you are seeking a mellow morning cup with a Café blend or a classic, bold Italian roast, this Puerto Rican coffee shop is a haven for anyone serious about their coffee.

Porto Rico is the truth when it comes to coffee. They’ve been around forever and you’re hit with the old school New York feeling when you walk in. You’re also warmly welcomed by waves of sweet coffee aroma. They offer caffeinated, decaf, flavored and organic coffees. I travel from Queens for this.

Porto Rico Importing Co. on Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village is a great spot for tea and coffee lovers. With five locations, this shop offers a huge selection of teas and coffees. The smell when you walk in is incredible. We had two iced coffees. While the taste wasn’t amazing, I’m open to trying other flavors next time. The fresh coffee beans they sell look perfect for brewing at home. The customer service was friendly but not overly so. It would have been nicer if they offered more options or choices, as they seemed primarily focused on just taking your order. I’ll definitely be back to explore more of what they offer.

Last month on our way to Carmine Street Guitars followed by trying out a new Matcha place, we passed by Porto Rico Importing and couldn't resist the beautiful scent of delicious fresh coffee beans as someone was leaving the store and the door was closing. I turned to my husband & asked him if he wanted to go inside. He looked puzzled as we were on our way to Aoko so coffee wasn't on our radar. What he didn't realize is that Porto Rico also sells whole beans. I told him this and he immediately doubled back. Initially I waited outside since it was a gorgeous day towards the end of September but when he didn't come back I decided to see what was taking so long. He fell in love-that's what happened!! He settled on a pound bag of the Colombian Espresso after speaking with a highly knowledgeable staff member. Customer service is key when being overwhelmed by a large selection and you're not sure what's what so we were grateful to have some guidance. Now we are back in Arizona enjoying the best coffee we've had at home. I can see why Porto Rico Importing has been around for so long!! We will definitely be ordering and stopping by the store every time we are in NY.

great place. dreamt of returning. woke up. drove in from Joizy on a Monday night. pulled up in front. parked right in front. thrillingly easy. didn't have the jamaican blue mountain I came for though. that sucked eggs. Got a pound of Kona and ordered, on their recommendation, two others. Also got a mug and a tshirt. Splurge. Get in my car. $198!! Disappointingly the two other non-Kona coffees I bought I had asked for 1/2 pounds of had magically turned into full pounds. Innocent enough mistake as we were all chatty and I was the dopey Jersian who came on the whim of a dream. Next time, I'll keep a closer eye and not kibitz so they get ferhoodled. "Ferhoodled" is a colloquial term, chiefly used in the Pennsylvania German area, meaning confused, mixed up, tangled, or perplexed. In Jersey, we call it hoodwinked and bamboozled and gettin' took! Hey I kid. i needed beans, ya dig - by any means necessary. Sure enough! Coffee and money: can't take either with you and too much of either and they run right through you!

This is such a cute store and my anticipation of going there is thinking it will be fun to pick out some exotic coffee. However, when I actually get in the store, I feel like most of their employees need to be drinking more of their coffee and get some caffeine in their system. We walked in yesterday and there was a staff person at the door, but they didn't even ask us if we needed help--then when we asked for help, the woman was not very friendly and not very interested in answering our questions about the coffee available. Furthermore, during her time getting the beans, she stopped to chat with her other staff people. There were a couple other staff people after we were there a while that seemed to be more proactive in giving good customer service. Overall, every time I go here, I'm a little bit disappointed that they aren't more friendly and aren't more willing to assist.

Porto Rico is the best! My mom sent me an 'Easter basket' full of coffee. That darn bunny found some gold! With tariffs being what it is...The spring sale was still going on so I called the 800 number to talk coffee and place another order. Matthew was very helpful and put up with my questions, along with my desire to mix coffee! From the last order, I learned the Haitian isn't what my taste buds remember OR that I now prefer my Papua New Guinea mix that was recommended by another barista. I have a favorite shop in Rochester and that coffee doesn't even compare to Porto Rico. This company is next level so support them!!

My go to coffee place when im in the Village. Love, love the old school vibe of this coffee spot. The whole place smells of Coffee. Nothing like it. Service is fast &efficient. Coffee is good & price is just. No sitting inside but if you get lucky there are 2 benches outside. Prime spot for people watching.

The second you walk near Porto Rico Importing Company, you can smell the delicious aroma of coffee seeping outside the doors. The staff onsite was wonderful, and kindly described how to select a coffee blend best fitting to your taste.

It smells so wonderful in here, you'll have no problem hanging around shopping for the large variety of coffee beans and sweets to pair with. There is a small cafe located in the back where you can order some craft brews and creations.

The smell of coffee draws you in with there sacks of international coffees beans and teas - it feels like a old general store . They also serve coffee and will also grind your coffee . I'll be back .

Picked up a pound of the Colombian roast and am currently enjoying it. Cool place to acquire some good coffee beans.

What a great place! Coffee Heaven! Largest variety of imported coffee beans and teas from around the world in this small, cozy store! Staff are friendly and very helpful! Highly recommended!

This is my go-to coffee place when I'm at work. When you walk in, you immediately smell all the coffee beans. Coffees are affordable and the staff are nice. There isn't anywhere to sit inside, but there's two benches outside the store.

A good local coffee shop that doesn't charge extra for non-dairy milk! The shop sells imported beans but you can also grab coffee to go. The staff were friendly and they seemed like they were accustomed to regulars. There were even a few patrons who inquired about the owner of the shop and how he was doing. It felt nice to see that something that wasn't a big coffee chain was thriving.

I have been buying coffee here for over 25 years. The variety of whole bean coffees is great. Staff are friendly and helpful.

We stopped in while wandering Greenwich Village on our first trip to NYC. Super friendly staff and literally the best beans and coffee we've ever tried.

They deserve five stars for scent alone! If you love the scent of coffee beans, this is your place. I don't even love flavored coffees but man. Their amaretto and cinnamon chocolate beans smelled OUTRAGEOUS. I actually didn't buy anything...but the staff seem knowledgeable about beans and coffee. Plus this shop has been there forever. I figure there's a good reason for this!

This place smells incredible and is so inviting on a cold day for a cup of coffee. It's right next to social media popular Pop Up Grocer, so it is less likely to have as many throngs of people, but the coffee is solid and prices are reasonable. They have mounds and mounds of delicious coffee beans laid out bazaar style. The prepared coffee counter is in the back and clearly well frequented. The baristas are friendly and helpful! The beans are so luxurious and silky. The hot latte is great and they have a variety of syrups if that's something you like. I would pop by again if I was in the area!

Great store. Can't wait to go back. Friendly service and the place smells like heaven.

I love their iced mocha with oat milk !! Super cool vibe inside, would definitely reccomend for coffee to go or to buy beans!

Live all the different coffee blends here. I love the hazelnut coffee and French mocha! A pound is $17, which isn't too bad

Great variety of coffees and tea. Brewed coffee available. Knowledgeable staff. Convenient location and hours.

Amazing selection of beans. The staff is super knowledgable and they always have great deals and sales.

Recommended by a friend for variety of whole coffee beans and they didn't disappoint. Was a bit confused upon arrival as there are two lines. One to the coffee bar in the back of the store and the other for ordering coffee beans, whole or they grind them for you. I was in the wrong line for a few minutes, but made my way to the counter line for beans. Line went quickly and was able to get exactly what I wanted. Surprise for me is they have Cafe Du Mon coffee from New Orleans. If you haven't tried the one with Chicory, it's wonderful. Glad I know where I can grab here in the city.

Love this place! Will definitely come back for more coffee beans! The place smells wonderful and has such a huge variety. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. In fact, I just learned from one of the staff that I had been grinding my coffee beans too fine for what my coffee maker needs for optimal taste. And he was right! The coffee we make at home now tastes so much better! If you want a great tasting cup of coffee I highly recommend this place!

Grabbed a cup of house drip black. Simple grind, simple brew, strong tasting coffee. How coffee should be made and how it should be presented. No hype, just order a cup, pay, and enjoy.

Porto Rico Importing Company houses some of the best coffee beans in NYC. My mom was a frequent shopper at Porto Rico and was delighted when buying varieties of their water processed decaf coffee. Note--this is not a cafe but a roastery that sells varieties of coffee by the pound. They are visible in the store and kept in large burlap sacks. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, browsing in the store (which is medium sized) was off limits. A rope cuts the store in half and only 3 customers permitted inside. I am always appreciative of businesses applying a capacity limit. The store doesn't stop at just selling coffee. They have teas, spices, herbs and candy. They also have accessories and coffee/ tea pots. Upon today's visit, I wanted to try a new flavor and viewed their menu for options. The guy, who helped me, made a few recommendations--of which one was Maple Walnut--my purchase. The menu had other delightful flavors that caught my eye such as Cinnamon Hazelnut and Cinnamon Orange. I'm a cinnamon aficionado. At $11.99 a pound, their coffee is reasonably priced and they will grind according to your coffee pot. Visiting today brought back fond memories and I'm eager to try the Maple Walnut coffee. If you enjoy coffee and make your own, I would recommend checking them out. Oh, you can get a cup of Joe to go! Good quality merchandise.

Porto Rico Importing Company is a gourmet coffee & tea importing shop that opened in Manhattan, New York in 1907. It was founded by Italian immigrant Patsy Albanese. From the early 1900s through the 1920s, Manhattan's Greenwich Village neighborhood had a large influx of Italian immigrants who opened businesses to satisfy the culinary needs of the community. Albanese opened his shop at 195 Bleecker Street and it was named "Porto Rico" because imported Puerto Rican coffee was very popular at that time; even the Pope drank it. Also at that time, Puerto Rico was officially spelled 'Porto Rico'; the spelling was changed in 1931. Around the same time at 201 Bleecker Street, the Longo Family opened an Italian bakery. In addition to baked goods, they also baked pizza, turkeys and hams for customers because most people didn't have their own ovens. In 1958, Albanese was looking to retire and Angelo Longo approached him with the offer to buy the shop. The Longo Family moved the shop to the location of their bakery in 1965 and it's been there ever since. Today they offer over 130 varieties of coffee from all over the world, as well as a large selection of teas. Porto Rico also sells wholesale to over 350 restaurants. Today there are also three other locations in New York City and the current owner of the business is Peter Longo, who lives upstairs. My wife, sister-in-law, and I first visited Porto Rico while we were on a Cannoli/Sicilian Food Walking Tour in 2019. We found ourselves in Greenwich Village again this past weekend and I had to stop again and get more of their delicious coffee. The place smells so good inside. All of the coffees are available as fresh whole beans but you can have them grind them for you right there. I previously tried their "Eggnog" coffee but I wanted to try something different. I treated my sister-in-law to 1/2 pound of "Strudel Cake", I got 1/2 pound of "Tiramisu", and I also bought 1/2 pound of their delicious Dark Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans. If you're looking for really good coffee in NYC then you need to head to Porto Rico Importing Company!

Just stopped in for a cup of coffee and it was delicious! They have a wide assortment of teas and coffee beans that I'd love to try and take home next time!

My oh my the sweet smell of coffee! I usually frequent the east village location but stopped here because I was in the area. I just love to walk in and look at the large sacks of coffee and enjoy the most intoxicating aroma! Also the staff is always fantastic. Very accommodating, friendly, and knowledgeable. Love this place and all of its NYC locations!

Good coffee and pretty cheap too. No soy milk but they have oat and almond. They also have snacks (biscotti, chocolate almonds, caramel etc). Service is friendly and you can buy beans to take home.

One of my favorite cold brews I've ever had! Very reasonably priced, and the coffee is very fresh and strong. You can buy coffee and coffee beans in bulk here!

I purchased some chicory here a few months ago. Once I tried it at home, I wished I'd purchased more. It's not on the website so I called & was able to place an order over the phone. It arrived in CA in 5 days. Great service & the most delicious fresh chicory I've found. Can't wait to visit the shop again.

Another old sleeper shop that has caught the eye of the masses now turning it into a frenzy. Ridiculous. Where were all these people over the years when Porto Rico was empty? What exactly caught their eye now? An article or a shout out in Sex in the City or something? The coffee bar in the back used to be one of the few places to grab coffee years ago before all the coffee shops sprang up around the neighborhood. I enjoy the old school vibe here and grab beans when in the neighborhood. So glad they have remained all these years. I love old school New York places along with the new places. That's what makes a neighborhood.

A great coffee establishment for coffee lovers of all stripes. This is one of my go to coffee places near Bleecker Street, and I think you would be hard pressed to find a better place to buy your coffee. Prior to this review, I have had the pleasure of both tasting Porto Rico's coffee from its in-house cafe and purchasing coffee beans from the store; both methods of experiencing coffee here are great. Besides selling very flavorful cold brews and other coffees, Porto Rico coffee sells a variety of beans both decaf and caffeinated. This makes Porto Rico stand out in a city powered by coffee; I have yet to find a store with the same variety of decaf coffee as this store. Additionally, from what I have seen, Porto Rico also sells a variety of tea. I definitely need to check this out next time.

Been living here in NYC all my life. I've seen MANY changes since I was a kid. There are a few places left that would be a disaster for me if they weren't around. THIS is one of them .Been going here FOREVER! Most younger people don't know much about coffee and when they load it with sugars, flavorings and fake cream, it's not even coffee. Porto Rico KNOWS how to roast coffee correctly. I buy my coffee beans here and grind them at home. The only coffee I have when I am out, is from this place. This is REAL coffee DONE RIGHT!

This place is coffee heaven! I've been coming to Porto Rico since I was a teen, hooked by my mom who remembers it fondly from her NYU days in the 80s. It smells amazing, the staff is very knowledgeable but unpretentious (so rare), and the selection is fantastic. Most beans are $9-12/lb and every bit as delicious as the $18/lb stuff at your local hipster coffee shop. Plus you can buy the amount you actually want; there's no discount for buying a full pound so why not try a couple, date around before finding The One, ya know? And while you're here, get a mocha or a pour over from the little coffee bar in the bar. Stick it to the chain coffeeshop man while enjoying the aromas a little longer. Heads up for you organic-only snobs, you'll appreciate that they have a dedicated grinder only for organic beans.

They have some really cheap tea options here, I got the Sencha which was super cheap, especially compared to any of the other tea options in the area. That being said, I thought the quality of the sencha was a little low. I wasn't expecting too much though since the price was so low but still a bit unfortunate.

always loved this place, been a customer since 1980. But... couple weeks ago they charged my credit card twice for a single transaction, the exact same amount, exact same time and date. I saw it online in my account when I got home, called up Puerto Rico, took awhile to get a manager and he basically brushed me off. I said I could send him a screen shot of the double overcharge on my CC statement and he replied they'd call me back, "we'll look into it" and hung up. Never heard back from them. American Express will ultimately refund the overcharge as sadly I had to open a dispute and PR hasn't responded to AmEx's reach outs to them. All this to say, it's bad customer service and I won't be returning.

Great coffee, fair prices, a neighborhood institution, and I appreciate how supportive the owner is to local public schools -- he donates gift certificates to ALL of us for our fundraising auctions. Menschy!

Fabulous coffee seller in Greenwich Village. In my experience there's less of a wait at this location compared to the shop in the East Village. I've been able to just walk right in and ask for what I want. The selection of beans is vast, and it's helpful to know what you want. Otherwise, pick something that sounds good, or ask an employee for a recommendation. They'll probably steer you towards one of the more popular offerings so let them know if you're seeking something more exotic. Espresso beans are also available, as well as tea and a variety of equipment to brew/infuse your beverage of choice. This can be a one-stop shop for someone new to coffee and seeking the best products to make delicious bean juice.

I had a surprisingly disappointing experience here bringing my Pavoni in for maintenance. They lost my machine on their truck. Three days and three trips to Bleeker Street later and it did arrive. These things happen, but the manager was nasty about it. I know it's hard to find a place to do maintenance, but I don't think I'll be back here.

Until I happened to be strolling down Bleecker recently, I had forgotten about this place and how truly awesome it is (I used to buy all my coffee from here back in the day). If you live nearby, it really should be your go-to coffee place.

I like this coffee shop, the guy that works here is super friendly and helpful. I visited the St. Marks location a few days ago and felt the cold shoulder by I believe the manager. She saw me and started putting the tip money in the cash register. Like clearly I came to spend money on three ground coffees (one mocha and two Peruvian all 1lb) for my friends and an ice coffee for myself. I think it's because I'm attractive and the manager isn't so she felt like she had to make me uncomfortable. I'm going to a different location next time.

My favorite coffee connection. Prices are up but they are up everywhere. I've been buying from PR for over 40 years. Support your local businesses! Peter, did you scuba in Bonaire many years ago? Captain Don's? I think we met there, haha!

Yes, yes, yes! I forgot how much I loved this place when I worked nearby. Thanks to Cynthia writing a review I would have completely forgotten! I would walk over to Bleecker Street and hang out on my lunch breaks. This store meets every coffee addicts needs. I really loved to buy gifts here when I was employed! Especially since my Supervisor was a big fan! I can't match my Friend Cynthia 'a ROTD. I'm not going to try. Thanks C! I can't wait to head back to that neighborhood on a Spring Day and enjoy all the shopping! I'll try to remember to stop in to pick up some coffee. Or take photos anyway!!

Best selection of coffee in NYC. And the staff knows coffee better than anyone. I go as often as possible to stock up.

This place is seriously legit! The selection is exotic and huge, coming from all over the world! Prices are very much commensurate with high end coffee (not over priced). The staff is friendly and helpful. We purchased a pound of Costa Rican French Roast for 10.99/lb. The beans are perfectly roasted, and our resulting brew of coffee is delicious. Perfectly robust and smooth. If you are a coffee lover and happened to be in New York, this lovely purveyor is a must stop!

I bought all my coffee here for over ten years, and still have a soft spot for the place. The trouble is, the world of coffee has moved on in leaps and bounds since the 1990s, and Porto Rico is the same. What used to be some of the best coffee in NYC is now completely outclassed by what you can buy in about a hundred small shops (and medium shops, and big ones ... ). Porto Rico is stuck in coffee's 2nd wave, where they think a full city roast is a light roast, and where it's somehow ok to take a beautiful single-origin coffee bean from Ethiopia and roast it black as Starbucks charcoal. This is murder, people. I do like stopping in and seeing all the coffee beans in the barrels. It may just be colonialist nostalgia, but esthetically it's nice. Maybe the teas are higher quality ... I haven't tried them. I like seeing a serious selection of tea. To the owner: wake up! You have the means. And the knowledge you need is out there.

The minute you walk into Porto Rico Importing company, your nose is greeted with pleasant smells of hazelnut, caramel, and chocolate that fill the room from dozens of freshly roasted coffee varieties. This place is a coffee lovers dream! They sell by the lb or 1/2lb and for unique coffee beans, the prices are very reasonable ($14-17/lb). They have weekly sales on select varieties. There are varieties from all around the globe including decaf and flavored coffees. They also have a small cafe in the back and sell ice cream and other sweet treats. Service was very nice and friendly. We will definitely be back!

The best place for un ground coffee!!!! Good staff as well! I used to go to the Thompson street location and now walk to bleaker street and so worth the walk.