# El Motor: Coffee and the Heart of Puerto Rico

“El Motor: Coffee and the Heart of Puerto Rico” immerses viewers in the world of Puerto Rican coffee, revealing how this cherished crop serves as both economic lifeline and cultural heartbeat. Through intimate portraits of generational farmers, dedicated harvesters, and innovative processors, “El Motor” uncovers the profound relationship between the land, its people, and the coffee that has shaped Puerto Rico’s identity for centuries. The film captures the challenges of farming alongside moments of triumph, revealing how Puerto Rico’s coffee farmers preserve tradition while adapting for the future. From the careful selection of ripe cherries to the rhythmic drying of beans under the Caribbean sun, witness how coffee sustains families and fuels the island’s spirit. More than a crop, coffee emerges as el motor-the enduring engine of cultural pride, community resilience, and hope for generations to come. Filmmaker Russell Oliver is a recipient of a 2022 American Folklife Center’s Community Collections Grant for his project, “Documenting the Stories, Agricultural Traditions, and Culture of Specialty Coffee Farmers in Puerto Rico.” This year’s American Folklife Center Homegrown Foodway Film series is dedicated to celebrating the American Folklife Center Community Collections Grants program recipients, their projects and community traditions. The Community Collections Grants program is part of the Library’s “Of the People: Widening the Path initiative.”

- Kind: Talk
- Year: 2025
- Runtime: 31 min
- By: Pintado, Ignacio
- Archive: [Library of Congress](https://www.loc.gov/item/video-10772/)
- Licence or status: Rights statement at the Library of Congress (as the archive states it)
- Credit: Library of Congress
- Who can watch: Tweens profiles and older (the archive gives no rating; placed by Invisible Network from its collection and subjects)

[Watch now](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/watch/archive/loc/video-10772?play=1)