With customers conversing in Spanish, music playing, and trays of fresh-baked goods making their way out of the kitchen, El Coqui Bakery is the place to be in Deltona. "The bakery is crowded every morning," said co-owner Jasmarie Rosa. "People get here early in the morning, talk with their friends, watch the news, have a pastry, read the newspaper, and then come back for lunch." Originally from Puerto Rico, owners Jasmarie Rosa and Brenda Rosa relocated to Deltona in search of a new start. "I moved here before Hurricane Maria, and my sister moved here after the hurricane," said Jasmarie. "I originally moved to Orlando but soon came to Deltona after my coworkers told me how similar it was to Puerto Rico." Coming from a long line of bakers, the sisters learned to cook from their family. "I have a master's degree in criminal justice and forensic psychology, and my sister was a teacher," said Jasmarie. "But we learned to cook from our mother and grandmother. My mother had a cafeteria in Puerto Rico, and we would help her cater different events. The "El Coqui Bakery" brand was established in 2009, and the sisters purchased the business from its previous owners in April, deciding to retain the name. More than just a bakery, El Coqui Bakery also makes sandwiches, empanadas, breakfast sandwiches, their famous espresso, and much more. "Our most popular item is the coquitrón sandwich," said Jasmarie. "It's bistec, pastrami, and turkey all on our freshly baked bread." The bread is made fresh every day and is one of the key factors that sets El Coqui Bakery apart from other bakeries in the area. "We make the bread every morning," said Jasmarie. "Our most popular bread is the cheese bread and the Mallorca. We have three different types of Mallorca: sugar, cheese, and cheese and guava. Some of our customers will even use the sweet bread for their sandwiches." Other bakery items include turnovers, quesitos (pastries filled with cheese), flan, doughnuts, tembleque, and tres leches. El Coqui Bakery is located in three locations now, and they also offer catering for events.
