Farming Abroad - Coffee Harvest in El Salvador

Working with Luis Gutierrez and his son on La Finca de Cristiani Burkard in El Salvador, I learn how coffee is harvested at high elevations on the side of an active volcano. The bright red coffee beans are hand picked and fill heavy bags that are carried across steep terrain to the trucks that are waiting to haul them down the rough mountain dirt roads. At the washing and drying facility in the valley below, coffee is prepared one of three ways: natural, washed, and honey. I learned all about the different flavor nuances of the different varieties and preparation methods by taking part in a taste test, which happens regularly on the farm to ensure the the coffee is meeting their highest quality standards. After the beans are washed, they are moved to either raised beds or "the patio," where they are continually hand stirred while they dry under the hot sun. Lastly the coffee beans are bagged and ready for export out to all parts of the world.
I can't thank Wilbur-Ellis enough for their support on this trip. Not only did they help sponsor the video, they were also my connection to this amazing coffee farm in El Salvador. Our farm here in Oregon has been loyal Wilbur-Ellis customers for many years now and we've established strong relationships at the company with people that are helping us maintain our crop health and helping manage our farm's inputs. Luis, in El Salvador, had the same nice things to say about his experience working with Wilbur-Ellis as well, which was great to hear. Wilbur-Ellis has been a great company to work with and I'm honored that they wanted to help make this video happen. www.wilburelli...

[@RedBerryCoffeenista]

I am a coffee farmer, processor and roaster in South Africa. I have followed your channel for some time now. I was really excited when you announced that your first video on your new series was about coffee. I was not disappointed. A down to earth, honest, authentic and easy to understand representation of the processes and effort in the early stages of the coffee value chain. Really great work. Look forward to watching your adventures.

[@lastpreatorian418]

You need to see about having him come to your farm and doing the same thing. Get to see how it’s different from this episode.

[@ShopTherapy623]

@450x Does it suck knowing you're an idiot?

[@moejasss]

Is there any brand or roastery that you'd recommend in the highveld area?

[@JamesRyanHarbour]

How’s growing coffee in South Africa?

[@RedBerryCoffeenista]

@@JamesRyanHarbour South Africa has a long history of growing coffee. We recently completed a climate suitability and identified I’ve 750000 ha suitable. We are working with growers across these regions to develop a sustainable coffee industry.

[@edfig]

Dude this is a full on documentary! AMAZING!!!

[@FarmandHammer]

This is the kind of show that should be on Netflix! It was very informative and gave us all a little glance of what fellow farmers are doing around the world. Looking forward to the next one!!!

[@carmenschumann826]

. . . it's now about 15 years ago that I (as a tourist from Europe) worked for 2 weeks on a coffee plantation in Costa Rica (just for food and accomodation), the grounds of this family facility was also high-lying on the slopes of volcano Poas - your video reminded me very much of these great days and I nearly physically re-experienced what I encountered then . . .

[@thefounder42]

Thanks for covering El Salvador Coffee plantations guys

[@rigobertoavelar6439]

So proud of my coffee farmers!! That was my job when in vacation from school… Loved the documentary ❤

[@lastpreatorian418]

SO JEALOUS!!! Amazing video and keep it up. Love all the videos you do. I look forward to more on this series along with the farming, and project videos you do.

[@bradmc1975]

Hello from Melbourne Australia,love your vids and this one was something special.Thank you and please keep them coming

[@Allan-mf1he]

Really good stuff. Your humble documentary rivals that of a proper production. Love coffee too much, have to grind beans every day.

[@josemejia7094]

I love your documentary as a salvadorian im proud of my people and I thank you for showing something positive of my country....

[@dejanbrice8774]

This is a side of El Salvador I never knew about, I only ever knew about the gang violence and criminals but thank-you for opening this new side of such a wonderful looking country to me!

[@bombarderoazul]

The media is to blame, in the last two years crime has declined by 80% thanks to the new government. But usually the media will rarely report on good things,

[@MacMyKitty]

Thanks to the U.S! investigate why we have all these troubles!

[@drodz4098]

Like Tucker Carlson from FOXNews, who is currently preparing a report on MS 13 instead of reporting on the “New” El Salvador and all the jobs the new government is creating for not only the country’s people but also other neighbor countries.

[@codyphillips6737]

Learned a lot about coffee. Where next? Enjoy your channel. Like always very well presented.

[@pauljerrymd5119]

Absolutely excellent. Every person involved in the production of this deserves great credit. You and your wife’s attitude and work ethic deserve credit as well. You should be proud of yourself. This demonstrates the pride of farmers from both countries. This Michigander is looking forward your future travels.

[@BradParler]

Wow! Please bring more of these stories. Such amazing work. Huge thanks to Wilbur-Ellis for sponsoring this content.

[@ggattsr]

What an outstanding video. El Salvador is a really beautiful and Luis was most gracious. Loved the graphics and excellent filming. You and Kelly are such naturals. Anxiously waiting for the next one.

[@MrSv90]

That is the way, No chemicals, No destroying nature, but respect for our planet and What it gives us, wish there were more people like this

[@cdomingos20]

I think drinking my cup tomorrow morning I will appreciate it a lot more lot of work.

[@felixgarcia4001]

Truly grateful that you shared your experience and very carefully put it together in this video. I also will never look at a cup of coffee the same will not take it for granted that so much work went into it. Thank you!

[@just.some.dud3]

Man what a cool first video. I can't wait to see more, really well done. I have a new perspective on my morning coffee. :)

[@MrElBenno]

At the end i had tears in my eyes cause it is so good to see that people love our world. They are not that rich like many of us but... forgot what i said, they are a way richer than the most us cause they love what they do and they appreciate the important things in life like our world, family and simple things like water. Thank you Rainfall Projekcts (i do not know your name, sorry for that :D) for this beautiful video! i will continue to follow you

[@dangerrangerlstc]

That was awesome to see. Can't wait to see what will come next. I hope it's more of the unusual crops that are particular to certain regions. I imagine corn in Europe is harvested pretty similar to the US.

[@leslieb.1907]

This was AMAZING! I’m a coffee drinker, but had no idea what was involved in the growing, harvesting, and drying of the beans! So labor intensive! I have a much greater respect for the whole process! Thanks for this video...can’t wait for more of them!

[@Not_Pilky]

This series is going to be something special. This video alone is amazing. Well done to you and your wife! genuinely a wonderful video to watch

[@Cherokee140Driver]

You knocked it out of the park with this one! What a bunch of dedicated and humble people. I have so much respect for their work ethic. Thanks for doing this. I've never worked with Wilbur-Ellis but I thank them for helping you produce this! On to the next!

[@PeterBuchanan1]

Great mini documentary! So much more appreciation for you and Kelly, and the special families of el Salvador who work with pride and passion to create the coffee we all take for granted. Much need perspective 👍

[@yummboy2]

I am amazed at how cheap coffee is to buy. I never imagined how labor intensive it is to produce. Mr Gutierrez clearly loves and respects Mother Earth. I wonder how popular his philosophies are with his fellow farmers?

[@vilmarmoccelin]

There is a very different process to produce the cheap coffee, from your local store to the chains like Starbucks. He said that there is no "plantations" of coffee there, but here in Brazil (the larger producer of coffee in the world) there are huge farms with mechanized process that produces the lower grade coffeeS that results the cheap drink you mentioned. There is premium coffee around here too, with manual labor, lots of enviromental care, and huge care for the final product in the process as a whole, and also exists places like my father's farm, with semi-mechanized process in small areas. But everytime I hear about this process of harvest coffee bean by bean it sounds weird to me. Search for "colheita usando derriçadeira" (harvest using "derriçadeira") to see what is a mid-way between what you see in this video and fully mechanized coffee harvest (colheita de café mecanizada).

[@MacMyKitty]

It will get more expensive, the world's coffee committee will pump the prices up

[@cxa340]

Coffee is like wine you can buy what you want - in El Salvado the coffee is primarily shade grown, on smaller fincas near Chalatenango, however the output is very small which is why most Salvadorans drink instant coffee at home. The coffee we grow is far too expensive and was sold months before harvest on the futures market for any of us to consume it as home.

[@cruznavarro5806]

I was born in El Salvador and grew up harvesting coffee in my grandmothers farm, this brought so many good memories. Thank you for quality content and a dignifying representation of my country of origin!

[@hightower2537]

I came here to learn from you as a maker. And because im also a farmer. im excited to learn with you about the other farms around the globe. Love this content, keep it coming!

[@xw6968]

I buy only organic and only from small farms , and from a shop who makes sure the farmer gets his fair share. And yes its more expensive then big brands, but so so so much more tasty and nicer when drinking. I hope more people go smaller and support this way. Great to see this. Thank you for showing.

[@ericvelado769]

First time on your channel and enjoy your video. Really nice production! I'm from El Salvador, I love the smell of coffee but I only drink coffee once a year. I'm not kidding! When I was a kid, I went with my grandparents to collect coffee in another area of the country surrounded by more volcanoes. I enjoyed the experience with them. They used to drink coffee with every meal. This video brings me back nice memories and it was a relief to watch this process instead of the same news during these days. Thumbs up from TX.

[@gigi-pr7sf]

you must be from Chalatenango, 'cause coming harvest time, a lot of " chalatecos " would flow into Santa Ana to work in " las fincas " surrounding " el volcan de Santa Ana" , I did the harvesting myself, as a kid with my parents, and as a young man with my older brother (whom I lost during the civil war ) and our buddies, so, yeah, memories, of good times with the buddies and them girls, and also of really hard labor and very low wages. Saludos desde Phoenix, AZ

[@LongBeachRunner]

This was a great video :) Thank you for sharing.

[@BoomerKeith1]

Absolutely loving this series already! I had an idea how coffee was farmed/processed, but nowhere near the detail that I know now. It's also amazing how, when you get down to a personal level, people can relate even when there's a language barrier. Seems like such a wonderful family. Can't wait for future videos in this series.

[@Ultrazaubererger]

One of the best videos I've seen in a while.

[@katysramkova]

Wow. What?? Wow! What was that?? National Geographic series?? You really brought your YT channel to a completely new level.

[@ryanp0342]

Great video! I think the children working is a good example of why we have to be careful when trying to apply our culture on to that of others. Many would be quick to call it "child labor" when often harvest season is a family affair all around the world.

[@echoelement]

JD, as a viewer on your channel for years and years, I am continuously amazed! You continue to grow and it means so much that you are sharing your life and adventures with us. Keep it up mate!

[@kkall0602]

Your editing is some of the best on You Tube! Thanks for the beautiful video of Central America and the hard work that goes into coffee! Go Cougs!

[@JerodMatlock]

Well, this could have been on TV. Seriously someone needs to put this on TV so everyone can see this story.

[@TheJttv]

This is the kind of sponsored content I like to see. Stuff that adds to the channel.

[@Domokun-Dahu]

Thanks for keeping the original language and taking the trouble to provide subtitles. It respects the language and culture of your hosts. Incidentally is there anyway we can purchase coffee directly from your hosts?

[@christopherdahle9985]

Nicely done. I hope you will be able to do more of these. Despite the machinery and automation on modern farms, people need to understand that it still takes muscle and stamina to get food from the field to the table.

[@1kingyehuda1]

Man, i started watching your channel because of your amazing projects and i fell in love with the farming content! Keep it up! Beautiful video!

[@GodardScientific]

Incredible, I’ve loved watching your channel grow over the years. I look forwards to watch you continue to grow and see where it takes you (maybe Italy next?)

[@bigoz1734]

I work in the coffee industry, I always feel very appreciative for the work these farmers and workers do. It requires so much work to manage and create on that end. By the time it ends up in a cup it's amazing that it only costs $4.

[@jdive12]

Awesome! From a coffee lover here in the Philipines!

[@nathanwotwot]

What a fantastic video! I love all of your videos but this is a favourite already. Coffee is something I drink everyday and I've never put much thought into how the coffee is grown and processed. You have changed my daily cup of coffee into a small moment of appreciation, appreciation for the hard work and passion that goes into it long before it arrives on the shores of Australia and pours into my cup.

[@jdarmstrong29]

Bravo! Fantastic work!

[@estebanfortu1092]

As a Spanish speaker I like how you pronounce Luis

[@larrymclean2148]

This was amazing. Genuinely enjoyed every minute. It was great to see different farmers interact. You can tell you’re a true farmer because you wanted to jump in and try to help. Can’t wait until the next episode.

[@crazyliclay]

I would love to see you go to Japan and do some rice farming!

[@FlyingNazgul-wm1dv]

El Salvador is expert in coffee. The country has some of the best coffe on earth some of it is only for domestic consumption and they don't export it Volcanic soil is known to be super fertile and I assume it helps the coffee

[@fergusb2440]

Well done! I enjoyed this although I am not a coffee drinker. I always enjoy seeing people experience different places, cultures, languages and lifestyles. I wish all people could watch short films like this to gain an appreciation of others!

[@olinda1]

I love this video my dad used to be a coffee farmer and I remember how good that coffee was, thanks so much for sharing this video with us.

[@jeffkatzer]

That was fascinating. Thanks for taking me along JD.

[@robharrod]

WHY CAN'T I GIVE THIS MORE THAN ONE LIKE!!! Excellent Video!

[@AlmightyMickey]

Great Video, my father is from San Simon, Morazan. He grew up drinking coffee instead of milk. I had the privilege of going an watching them harvest. It's a cool experience seeing where the stuff I drink everyday comes from.

[@Callsign_Axel]

Wow, such an amazing video! If someone is gonna go viral soon, it should be this 🌍

[@sloaneausten9530]

Loved this documentary. I'll never drink coffee again without appreciating all the hard work that goes into every cup.

[@davidzimmer2694]

A beautiful film, about beautiful people, making a beautiful product. Outstanding video.

[@michaelhatch6283]

Love this video and super excited for the Series. Amazing concept. I love all the things you are doing; CNC, Fabrication, Farm work, maintenance, Farming aboard and Drake.

[@jtparker4978]

Great video, nice to see people caring for the land and treating the earth with respect. Thanks so much.

[@jameshodgins1937]

Nice video. Thanks for the education on coffee farming.

[@JCleggy]

Coffee is a big hobby of mine. I learned almost nothing from you video but damn I was completely captivated the whole time and loved every bit of it. I guess that’s a testament to the quality of your work. Well done! Thank you 😊

[@dougmacleod7241]

Very informative presentation. I knew a little bit about the process but not the amount of labor involved. Thanks to both of you and your sponsor for sharing

[@Thejakegee]

Well done! So great to see these efforts put on the map. Well done. Hope to see more and would Love to buy direct to support the families!

[@SeanHodgins]

That was incredible to see. Can't wait for the next one.

[@Egipcio.en.El.Salvador]

Nice 👍

[@peterjensen1229]

This is beautiful. The progress of you channel is a joy to watch. Your quality content was there on day one.

[@danielsim21]

Very interesting. -farmer from Mcminnville oregon

[@spoopyjhope]

Very hard-working people

[@dianecharles8748]

Hello from Victoria Australia,Saturday 11/July 2020, very interesting,I will never look at a cup of coffee the same again.

[@Bloktarino]

diane charles I’m also from Vic. Would love to see Rainfall Projects down this way! Very excited for this series!

[@fredfredrickson8892]

What a coincidence we are all from Vic!

[@melbournecrosbie]

I also live in Victoria (Melbourne). But I grew up on farms near Invercargill, in New Zealand's deep south. Australia, like NZ, has highly mechanised agriculture. Coffee growing in El Salvador appears much lower impact.

[@hopewalker5764]

I can’t wait for the next episode! Thanks Kelly, JD, and Wilbur Ellis!

[@mikededmon]

Wow, this was beautiful and so informative. Nice change to all the pain that we're seeing in the world right now.

[@cmhdave]

Where can I buy coffee beans directly from Luis?!?! A farmer's market for coffee beans? Mmmmmmmm!

[@Danirio96]

Mmmmmm child labor

[@ChuckADickiner]

@@Danirio96 Didn't grow up on a farm did you? Like they were saying in the doc, "coffee pays for their school" those kids know this. They take responsibility for it. Same as I and all the other farm kids have done. We know what it takes for us to have the life we do. Seems to me more kids should learn what labor and work really are these days. These kids aren't in sweat shops like the ones making your phones and computers and all your crap from the dollar store. Near slavery labor is an affront to humanity, however, putting in an honest days work is not something that ruins a childs life. I would argue the exact opposite.

[@cxa340]

Coffee in El Salvador is sold on the futures market as a cooperative commodity - fincas pool their output and sell them together directly on pre-sold contracts. The coffee we harvest in January was sold in October.

[@nilskristjan8007]

Interesting topic, very well produced video all around and the animations by Kelly are great! Keep up the good work, hope there are more of these planned.

[@EdWilliamsPDX]

Awesome work!! Interesting, entertaining, beautifully shot. Right up to the standard of what I've come to expect from your channel. I look forward to seeing more in this series. From a fellow Oregoinan, best to you and your family!!

[@Smalltime]

Great video, love the graphic animations too.

[@dwaynetube]

Great video, stunning landscape! I am looking forward to your next videos.

[@johnsisk5914]

Jake, the view of this farm feels like a present to us. Thank you for giving us all a sense of life for a different kind of farmer, on a different kind of farm in a different part of the world. I can see so many similarities between your farm in Oregon and Luis's farm in El Salvador. Very good of you to take us along. Thank you.

[@danmartinrc]

Wow! What a fantastic show! I am really looking forward to the next episode. I want to buy some of their beans now. 😀

[@gwpsr58]

Wonderful documentary. Very well done. So much more I now know than I did less than 23 minutes ago. Thank you.

[@stockyirish]

Excellent video. Can't wait to see more farms.

[@manfredschmalbach9023]

That was a very informative hence equally entertaining documentary not approached from the usually perspective of filmmakers or documenting scientists, but from the perspective of a participating colleauge in the trade - pretty unique and a very nice piece in deed. Hope to see some more of that stuff once in a while. Thank You for that one!

[@mdvener]

Very interesting, especially not knowing what all is involved to make a cup of coffee. Thanks for taking us along on your journey. Learned alot, never realizing how much work goes into growing the beans, then all that follows for a cup of coffee. Thanks.

[@toms4123]

This was a professionally put together documentary. Writing, filming, editing - brilliant.

[@x_ph1l]

What an amazing video, no, documentary! Awesome nature, people and interesting processes for making coffee. Thank you!

[@Rouverius]

Wow, this is great. Makes you realize how much effort it takes. I'm really grateful as I drink a cup of coffee while I watch this. Thanks!

[@davedavis662]

What a wonderful opportunity to travel and interact with such amazing people who take great pride in their endeavors. I’m a coffee lover for some time and even though I knew how much effort was involved it’s still good to refresh what you thought you knew. Things always change in how the work is done what remains consistent is the people, the pride and the dedication to their profession. I’m jealous to say the very least, Great episode thanks for sharing.

[@nicholaskocik2302]

Very well done!

[@CycleJerkMedia]

Very well done. I personally don't like coffee and in 44 years I've never had a cup but I still love seeing the passion in the process. Great video. Cheers.

[@dannysantos1266]

Nice to see you and the Mrs. in this wonderful video! Great job.

[@jamjamthejamman]

Woah. Crazy how much work goes into coffee. Great work

[@swood7022]

Nice work Justin and Kelly!

[@mrb1864]

Absolute brilliant idea and brilliantly done. First episode was a joy to watch, My coffee drinking will be changed forever in a good way ... Kind regards .

[@montanaylago]

This one is one of the best videos you have produced! It really shows the passion of everyone involved plus the importance of good farming and sustainability! Thanks for sharing!

[@stefanobahaw7194]

Absolutely beautiful...luis snr words at the end perfect....passion, pride and love for what they do awesome...keepum coming

[@cameronbg]

Well done!, I'm sure you put a lot of effort into creating this video and it paid off. Really like all of your content, almost as much as I like coffee!!

[@lecopete]

Thank you for this episode. I am enjoying a nice cup and never realized the hard work it took to get it here

[@niallwexeire]

That was Epic! Great Video! :)

[@matthewstudholmebrown1943]

what a fantastic thing you are showing us, love what you are doing keep it going. share share share people