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(Todd) THIS TIME ON "DANGEROUS GROUNDS,"
(motorcycle horn honks)
I'M IN SEARCH OF A RARE COFFEE RUMORED TO GROW IN HAITI.
I THINK WE PUSHED OUR LUCK FAR ENOUGH. LETS GET OUT OF HERE.
I JUST NEED TO SURVIVE THE DANGEROUS CITY STREETS...
WE GOT TO (bleep) MOVE IT NOW.
MAKE IT INTO THE MOUNTAINS, BUT AVOID COFFEE MIDDLEMEN...
I'LL BE SHOT AT.
AND FIND THAT BEAN THAT WILL BE THE NEXT GOLD MINE
FOR EXOTIC COFFEES.
WHAT THE (bleep)? LOOK AT THAT.
HOW HARD COULD THAT BE?
I GOT A DUDE STANDING IN THE FRONT WITH A MACHETE.
I'M TODD CARMICHAEL, AND I RISK IT ALL...
FOR COFFEE.
THINK OIL IS BIG MONEY?
YOUR DAILY CUP OF JOE
IS A $60 BILLION-A-YEAR INDUSTRY.
THE ONLY PROBLEM?
THE BEST STUFF GROWS
IN SOME OF THE PLANET'S MOST DANGEROUS PLACES.
(Todd) LOOK AT THIS.
SO FOR MY BUSINESS, THAT'S WHERE I GO.
I FOUND YOU, BABY.
THIS TIME, HAITI.
(car horns honking)
Closed Captions provided by Scripps Networks, LLC.
Captioned by Closed Captioning Services, Inc.
WE'RE IN PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI. THAT'S THE CAPITAL OF HAITI.
WHY I'M HERE, IT'S PRETTY SIMPLE.
AN ANCIENT COFFEE CALLED TYPICA
DIRECT FROM AFRICA IN THE EARLY 1700s.
I'M GONNA FIND IT, TAKE IT DOWN TO THE MOUNTAINS,
AND GET IT HOME.
TYPICA COFFEE CAN GO FOR AS MUCH AS $30 A POUND,
AND IT'S BEEN IN DEMAND FOR GENERATIONS.
200 YEARS AGO, HAITI WAS THE SECOND-LARGEST PRODUCER
OF COFFEE IN THE WORLD, BUT SINCE THEN,
INTERNATIONAL EMBARGOES, OPPRESSIVE DICTATORSHIPS,
AND A MASSIVE EARTHQUAKE CRIPPLED THE COFFEE TRADE...
BUT I BELIEVE THAT THIS RARE TYPICA VARIETY
CAN REJUVENATE THE HAITIAN COFFEE FARMS.
MY MISSION IS TO BUY BEAN DIRECTLY FROM THE FARMER
TO ENSURE THAT MY MONEY GOES INTO THE RIGHT POCKETS.
WHAT MAKES THE MAN HEALTHY, IT'S COMMERCE.
IT'S BUYING HIS COFFEE. IT'S BUYING HIS FRUIT.
IT'S BUYING ANYTHING HE HAS. THAT'S WHAT CURES A MAN,
AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE.
BUT DOING BUSINESS HERE IS TRICKY, TO SAY THE LEAST.
THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES HAVE ALWAY--
THEY ALWAYS FALL IN CATEGORIES.
THIS IS A CATEGORY FIVE COUNTRY,
CATEGORY FIVE BEING THE MOST DANGEROUS.
THIS IS SOMALIA. THIS IS AFGHANISTAN.
THIS IS ANARCHY. IT DOESN'T GET ANY WORSE THAN THIS.
(voices overlapping)
OURS IS JUST UP HERE.
THIS IS WHERE YOU START PICKING UP THE TRAIL OF THE COFFEE.
COFFEE STARTS IN THE MOUNTAINS AND IT FLOWS DOWNHILL
AND IT ENDS UP HERE.
LET'S GO.
♪♪
IF THERE'S A CLUE TO BE FOUND IN COFFEE,
IT'S GONNA START RIGHT HERE.
IT'S GONNA GIVE ME A LEAD TO WHERE I SHOULD GO TO FIND IT,
WHICH MOUNTAIN.
I'VE BEEN IN A LOT OF SKETCHY MARKETS LIKE THIS ONE,
BUT NEVER WITH A CAMERA GUY FOLLOWING BEHIND ME.
WE'RE ATTRACTING A LOT OF ATTENTION.
YEAH, I'M KIND OF STICKING OUT.
ESPECIALLY SHOOTER HERE, MAN. THEY'RE EYEBALLING HIM.
HERE'S THE SCORE. THIS IS BETWEEN ME AND YOU.
GOT TO HAVE A BACKUP PLAN, ALL RIGHT?
NOW HERE, OKAY, JUST LIKE EVERYWHERE,
YOU'RE GONNA GET PICKPOCKETS AND MINOR THIEVES.
WHO CARES, RIGHT?
BUT HERE IN HAITI, YOU CAN HAVE SPONTANEOUS RIOTS
OUT OF NOWHERE, AND I'M NOT KIDDING.
PLAN IS THIS--DON'T THINK ABOUT ME, GRAB YOUR CAMERA,
AND RUN LIKE A (bleep).
SOMETIMES, A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN START FIGHTING, ALL RIGHT?
AND YOU DON'T WANT TO BE IN THE MIDDLE, YOU GET IT?
♪♪
AH, THE SMELLS, YOU CAN'T IGNORE 'EM.
THEY JUST KIND OF CLIMB ALL OVER YOU.
I CAN'T DESCRIBE IT.
IT'S--IT'S SWEET, BUT IT'S ROTTEN AT THE SAME TIME.
IT'S LIKE A BAD REFRIGERATOR.
SOMETIMES IN MARKETS LIKE THIS ONE,
YOU CAN FIND RAW GREEN COFFEE,
OR IN HAITIAN FRENCH, CAFé VERT.
CAFé VERT?
CAFé? CAFé VERT?
OH, (bleep).
THERE IT IS.
ALL RIGHT, WELL, THIS IS COFFEE. LIKE, YOU CAN LOOK AT TOMATOES
AND TELL IF THEY'RE ROTTEN OR NOT, RIGHT?
I'M LOOKING AT TOMATOES, AND THEY'RE ROTTEN.
TO ME, YOU AND I, THIS IS JUST UNDRINKABLE.
THIS, AS YOU CAN TELL, LOOKS LIKE ROTTEN BACK TEETH.
THE FRUIT WAS NEVER PULLED OFF AND LET IT DRY IN THE SUN.
AND WHAT YOU'RE GONNA FIND INSIDE HERE
IS GONNA TASTE RANCID.
YEAH.
OKAY.
OKAY, I JUST ASKED HIM IF I CAN BUY 2 POUNDS OF COFFEE,
BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO INSULT THE GUY.
COFFEE GUYS ARE PRETTY SENSITIVE PEOPLE. I KNOW I AM.
NO ONE LIKES MY COFFEE, IT BREAKS MY HEART,
SO I'M GONNA BUY 2 POUNDS OF HIS.
CLEARLY THIS IS NOT THE GREATEST COFFEE IN THE WORLD.
BUT I'M TRYING TO SALVAGE SOMETHING,
AT LEAST KNOW WHERE WE CAN FIND OTHER COFFEES.
THERE, GONDOS, GONDOS.
GONDOS. GONDOS.
YEAH, YEAH.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT, WELL,
INCREDIBLE. AWESOME. THANKS, MAN.
(speaking French)
OKAY, ONE,
TWO, THREE.
THE CRIME RATE IN PORT-AU-PRINCE
IS OFF-THE-CHARTS, AND WE'RE STARTING TO GET
A LOT OF ATTENTION WHERE WE DON'T WANT IT.
I THINK WE PUSHED OUR LUCK FAR ENOUGH. LET'S GET OUT OF HERE.
AND BEFORE I CAN MAKE MY WAY OUT OF THE MARKET,
WE'RE SURROUNDED.
(voices overlapping)
NOW THINGS ARE GETTING SCARY.
(Todd) WE GOT TO (bleep) MOVE IT NOW.
COME ON, COME ON.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP MOVING. WE'RE BEING FOLLOWED BY PEOPLE.
HEY, LET'S STICK--HEY, LET'S STICK TO THE U.N. VEHICLE.
COME ON. ALL RIGHT, LET'S STAY NEXT TO THEM.
FOLLOW ME. YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET BEAT.
YEP.
I UNZIPPED MY BACKPACK. IT WAS THE WRONG IDEA.
YOU'RE HUNGRY, MAN. YOU HAVEN'T EATEN IN THREE DAYS.
SOME GUY STARTS WHIPPING OPEN A BAG. YOU HAVE A LOOK IN IT.
YOU THINK YOU'RE GONNA GET SOMETHING. NEXT GUY COMES IN.
THEY GET COMPETITIVE, AND ONCE THE BODY COUNT
GETS TO 10, 15, IT'S JUST--JUST GO, MAN.
YOU GOT TO GET OUT OF THERE.
THIS IS HOW I FEEL RIGHT NOW--
PIGS IN THE SEWER.
LOOK AT THIS GUY OVER HERE.
(sighs) HOW DO YOU FEEL?
YOU'RE SHAKING LIKE A LEAF. I CAN SEE YOU, SWEATY MESS.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S GET OUT OF HERE, MAN. YOU GOOD? LET'S GO.
THIS CLOSE CALL IS A HEAVY REMINDER
THAT I'M IN A PLACE THAT THINGS
CAN GET OUT OF CONTROL IN A HURRY,
BUT AT LEAST I GOT MY FIRST COFFEE LEAD--
ONE CLUE FOR WHERE TO GO IN THE MOUNTAINS.
(vehicle horns honking)
BEFORE I HEAD THERE, I NEED TO GRAB SOME ADVICE.
ONE GOOD THING IS, I DO HAVE CONNECTIONS HERE.
HIS NAME IS BERTRAND VIEUX, AND IF YOU'RE IN COFFEE,
THAT'S PRETTY MUCH, LIKE, THE POPE OF COFFEE.
IT'S A MUST THAT I WORK DIRECTLY WITH THE FARMER.
IT'S MUCH MORE MONEY FOR THEM, AND IT'S GREAT FOR MY BUSINESS,
BUT THE MOUNTAINS OF HAITI ARE UNDER THE CONTROL
THIS IS IT. COME ON.
I'M GONNA FIND OUT IF A GUY LIKE ME
CAN MAKE IT PAST THOSE THUGS.
NO, I MEAN, WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR FARMS?
A PEASANT, YOU SAY? A PEASANT FARMER.
I MEAN, I HAVE THAT SAME ISSUE.
A MAN IS RECEIVING 25 CENTS FOR A $5 ITEM THAT HE MADE.
I WANT TO TRADE DIRECTLY WITH THE FARMER, NO MIDDLEMAN,
SO THE RIGHT GUYS GET PAID.
I'LL BE SHOT AT.
TODAY'S THE DAY WE DECIDE
WHERE EXACTLY IN THE MOUNTAINS WE'RE GOING
TO FIND THE TREASURE,
WHICH I BELIEVE IS A BEAUTIFUL BEAN.
WE'RE LEAVING PORT-AU-PRINCE FOR THE MOUNTAINS
WHERE THE BEST COFFEE IS GROWN.
UP THERE, IT'S AN INDUSTRY RIFE WITH MIDDLEMEN--
THE KIND OF GUYS YOU JUST DON'T WANT TO RUN INTO,
AND THERE'S ONE GUY IN PARTICULAR I WANT TO AVOID.
EACH MOUNTAIN RANGE IS CONTROLLED
BY A DIFFERENT "PERSON."
THIS PARTICULAR GUY'S NAME IS PRESIDENT.
HE'S NOT ELECTED, ALL RIGHT?
HE CUTS A CUT AND A TAKE OF EVERYTHING.
SO WHAT WOULD YOU DO, HUH?
YOU'RE SITTING AT HOME
TO PAY OFF THE MAN WHO CONTROLS THE MOUNTAINS.
I SAY (bleep) JACK HIM.
I'VE BEEN WARNED I'M HEADING INTO A WAR ZONE,
RISKING MY LIFE AND THAT OF MY CAMERAMEN.
LISTEN, WHILE MAYBE I'M STARTING TO UNRAVEL,
I JUST GOT TO DO WHAT I GOT TO DO.
NOW LET'S GET SOME REFERENCE POINTS HERE.
WE'VE MOVED OUT ALONG THIS MAIN ROAD.
WE'VE COME ALL THE WAY DOWN HERE BY THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC...
(sighs) AND THIS IS WHAT I'M THINKING.
WE GOT THE MARKET COFFEE LEAD HERE.
I JUST DON'T FEEL STRONG ENOUGH ABOUT THAT LEAD
TO GO ALL THE WAY DOWN THE ISLAND TO GO OUT THERE,
'CAUSE I THINK IT'S A WILD-GOOSE CHASE.
(sighs) NOW COFFEE NEEDS ALTITUDE,
SO NOW I'M LOOKING FOR MOUNTAINS.
I'VE GOT THREE MOUNTAIN RANGES, AND THE HIGHEST ONE HERE
IS CHAINE DE LA SELLE.
WE'RE GONNA CLIMB ALL THE WAY TO THE FURTHEST TRAIL
'CAUSE THE HIGHER THE MOUNTAIN, THE HIGHER I GO,
THE BETTER THE COFFEE.
LEAVING PORT-AU-PRINCE, THE ROAD GETS MORE AND MORE NARROW,
AND WE SHIFT ONE SET OF PROBLEMS FOR ANOTHER.
LIKE, THINGS LIKE THIS.
THIS RIGHT HERE
THIS BUMPER HAS BEEN BURIED HERE FOR A REASON--
TO ATTACH A CHAIN AND RUN IT ACROSS THE ROAD.
THAT'S FOR HIJACKING,
AND WE WANT TO AVOID THAT.
SECOND PROBLEM IS GONNA COME FROM RIGHT OVER THERE,
OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD.
RIGHT OVER THERE IS THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC.
THERE ARE BUYERS, MERCHANTS, THEY'RE CALLED COYOTES--
MEN ON TWO LEGS.
THEY COME LOAN MONEY TO THE PEASANT FARMER
IN THE DRY SEASON, AND THEY COME DURING THE HARVEST TO COLLECT.
THEY DON'T LIKE ME IN THEIR TERRITORY.
IT'S THIRD WORLD LOAN-SHARKING, AND IT'S TOUGH STUFF.
THESE GUYS DON'T HAVE M.B.A.'s. THEY HAVE SOMETHING ELSE.
WE WANT TO AVOID COYOTES.
THEN FINALLY, THE PRESIDENT WANTS THE MONOPOLY.
HE DOESN'T WANT ME UP THERE.
THE PLAN IS WE GO AS HIGH AS WE CAN,
PACK THE TRUCK WITH THE COFFEE, AND GET OUT OF DODGE.
♪♪
WE'RE ONLY AT ABOUT 2,000, 3,000 FEET NOW.
I'M GUESSING AT IT, 'CAUSE IT'S STILL PRETTY WARM.
WHOA. OH, THAT'S NICE. SEE?
GEAR POPPED OUT. COME ON.
COME ON, STAY. WORK WITH ME, BABY. WORK WITH ME.
WHOA, CHECK THAT OUT, BABY.
LOOK DOWN THERE. YOU DON'T WANT TO GO OFF THAT, MAN.
THERE'S ONE BIG THING ABOUT BEING UP IN THESE MOUNTAINS--
THAT IS, IF YOU GO OVER THE EDGE,
NO ONE WILL EVER KNOW ABOUT IT.
WHOA.
HOW'S THAT MAKE YOUR TUMMY FEEL?
PULL OVER HERE, ALL RIGHT? YOU COOL?
ALL RIGHT, EASY MISSION HERE.
LUNCH, MAN--THAT'S PRIORITY NUMBER ONE. (laughs)
REALLY, NOW, ACTUALLY, PRIORITY NUMBER ONE IS
TO FIND OUT IF THE DOMINICAN COYOTES
HAVE BEEN THROUGH HERE YET,
SO WE'LL BUY A COUPLE CHICKEN DINNERS.
♪♪
(speaking French)
NO?
NO.
OKAY, MERCI, MONSIEUR.
IT'S NOT HEAVILY REFRIGERATED, AS YOU CAN SEE,
BUT IT'S SPICED.
(laughs) BEAUTY ON A BONE.
YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?
ANTHONY BOURDAIN, EAT YOUR HEART OUT, BABY.
♪♪
ALL RIGHT, MAN, READY TO SEE YOUR FIRST COFFEE PLANT?
WATCH OUT THE BRIARS.
AND SEE HOW BIG THESE PLANTS ARE?
ALL RIGHT, THEY'RE CALLED BUSHES, REALLY,
BUT IF YOU CAN SEE, THAT LOOKS MORE LIKE A TREE
(dogs barking)
THIS IS HOW IT'S DONE.
OKAY, SEE, THIS IS THE FRUIT.
RIGHT, GROWS IN THIS TREE.
TREES GROW UNDER THE SHADE.
LOOK UP. YOU GOT BANANA TREES, DIFFERENT TYPES OF TREES.
FRUIT COMES OFF LIKE THAT.
THAT SLIMY THING IN THERE IS COFFEE.
TAKE THE SKIN OFF AS SOON AS YOU PICK THE COFFEE,
'CAUSE IT WANTS TO ROT AND IT SMELLS TERRIBLE.
IT'S LIKE A SLIPPERY SEED, RIGHT?
LIKE IT'S A BAR OF SOAP.
THIS IS A REALLY LOW-ELEVATION COFFEE.
I MEAN, WE'RE AT--WE'RE AT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE 4,500 FEET.
BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST NOT GONNA EXPLODE YOUR MIND.
I MEAN, WE--WE NEED TO FIND THINGS
THAT REALLY PEOPLE REMEMBER.
IT HAS TO BE COFFEE THAT'S JUST EXPLOSIVE,
ONE THAT YOU TASTE AND GO, OKAY, I'LL NEVER FORGET THAT ONE.
THAT'S THE BEST COFFEE I'VE EVER HAD.
THAT'S WHAT I HAVE TO DO.
WE NEED TO GO UP A LOT HIGHER FOR THAT.
♪♪
RIGHT HERE.
IT'S A DRIVE-THRU COFFEE HARVEST
JUST SITTING HERE.
ANY BIG COMMERCIAL CHAIN,
CALL 'EM, LET'S SAY EVEN THE GREEN MERMAID,
THEY WOULD DIE TO HAVE THIS, AND HERE IT IS
RIGHT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD,
BUT THIS, NOT HIGH ENOUGH.
LET'S KEEP GOING.
SEE, THE SOIL'S STARTING TO TURN RED?
SOME OF THE BEST COFFEE IN THE WORLD IS GROWN IN THAT.
I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT CREATES THAT.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S POTASSIUM OR IRON,
OR SOME SMART GUY COULD TELL YOU, BUT AS A COFFEE GUY,
I CAN TELL YOU, IT MEANS--MWAH--COFFEE.
YOU KNOW, THE KIND OF COFFEE THAT YOU REMEMBER.
I THINK I'M DRAGGING A CHAIN. DO YOU HEAR THAT?
AH, (bleep). DAMN IT.
(bleep)
WE BLEW ONE OF OUR SHOCKS OUT.
IT'S JUST GONNA ADD A LITTLE BIT MORE BLOOD
TO YOUR URINE, THAT'S ALL.
JUST JUDGING BY THE FACT THAT NO ELECTRICITY WORKS IN THE CAR,
THERE'S NO WINDSHIELD WIPERS, NO DOORS,
IT DOESN'T STAY IN SECOND, AND WE GOT ONE SHOCK.
YOU KNOW,
IT MEANS THAT IF PUSHED TO THE LIMITS, ANYTHING CAN BREAK.
HERE WE GO.
ALL RIGHT, LOOK, MOM, NO SHOCK.
ALL RIGHT.
♪ AHH, NO BREAKING DOWN ♪
AND THAT'S IT, IT SHOULD BE GOOD.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO.
(motorcycle horn honking)
(vehicle horns honking)
(engine sputters)
DOESN'T SOUND TOO GOOD.
UGH. YEAH, SEE THOSE ROOFS DOWN THERE?
THERE'S A MAN THAT LIVES THERE THAT DOESN'T WANT ME HERE.
THE PRESIDENTE--HE DOESN'T WANT ME TO BUY COFFEE
DIRECTLY FROM THE FARMERS.
HE DOESN'T LIKE THAT.
HE'S THREATENED ME, SO HERE'S THE STRATEGY--
WE'RE GONNA STAY OUT OF TROUBLE'S WAY.
I DON'T WANT TO SEE HOW MAD
HE AND THE PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR HIM GET,
SO AS SOON AS WE HIT THE CEMENT ROAD,
I'M NOT GONNA DILLYDALLY.
EVERY COFFEE BEAN, DRAWING PLATFORM, MULE, AND ROAD
FROM HERE ON OUT BELONGS TO THE PRESIDENTE.
LOOK AT THE PEOPLE LOOKING.
MY GOAL IS CLEAR-- TO FIND THAT ONE FARMER
THAT'S BRAVE ENOUGH TO GO AGAINST
THE WISHES OF THE PRESIDENTE AND SELL TO ME DIRECTLY.
LOOK IN THE BACK OF THAT TRUCK.
YOU KNOW WHAT THAT IS? THAT'S A COFFEE BAG.
I'M FAIRLY CONFIDENT THAT A MAN WITH A TRUCK,
PROCESSED COFFEE IN THE BACK, HE'S GONNA KNOW OUR FRIEND
THE PRESIDENT.
LOOK AT THIS GUY. HE WANTS ME TO PASS.
♪♪
YEP.
YEAH, HE GOT THE BIRD'S-EYE ON ME.
CHANCES ARE WE'VE BEEN MADE ALREADY.
RIGHT NOW, I'LL BET YOU HE'S ON THE PHONE.
THAT MESSAGE IS EXPLODING ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS.
I'M GOING RIGHT UP TO IT.
OKAY, HERE'S SOME NATURALS.
THIS IS COFFEE, BUT LET'S MAKE THIS QUICK.
(motorcycle horn honking)
THIS IS A LITTLE DRYING PLATFORM.
ALL RIGHT, THIS IS NATURAL.
THIS IS JUST THE BERRY PICKED AND THROWN IN A PLATFORM.
SMELLS ROTTEN.
IF YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING, THIS COULD TASTE GOOD,
BUT THIS, I TELL YOU, IT'S UNDRINKABLE. WE DON'T WANT IT.
LET'S GO.
♪♪
(engine failing)
THIS--I THINK WE JUST POPPED IT OUT OF SECOND.
NO (bleep).
I THINK WE BLEW OUR TRANNY, DUDES.
CAN YOU DO ME A FAVOR, AND CAN YOU GRAB A ROCK
AND PUT IT BEHIND THE WHEEL?
STRAIGHT-UP GRADE-A (bleep).
YOU KNOW, I WAS ASKING MYSELF WHAT THIS CHAIN IS FOR.
IT'S TO CATCH THE DRIVESHAFT IF IT BREAKS. BOOM!
THEY SHEERED IT OFF.
WE'RE HEADING TO TOWN.
WE'RE RIGHT INTO THE SPIDER'S WEB. AWESOME.
IT IS 5:20, ALL RIGHT?
WE GOT 15 MORE MINUTES OF LIGHT.
UH, WE'LL WALK AND THINK.
I'M A PRETTY EASY I.D.
I KIND OF STICK OUT IN A CROWD HERE,
AND NOW I'M BEING FORCED INTO THE VILLAGE--
THE SAME VILLAGE AS THE GUY THAT I'M TRYING TO GET AROUND.
WATCH OUT.
TELLING YOU WHAT--NOW I REALLY HAVE TO BRING BACK THE BEST.
IT'S GONNA MAKE ALL THIS WORTH IT.
LET'S MOVE QUICK.
(breathing heavily) OUT HERE, IT GOES PITCH-BLACK
AND YOU CAN'T SEE ANYONE OR ANYTHING.
AND IT'D BE GOOD TO HAVE A FRIEND RIGHT NOW,
I TELL YOU THAT MUCH.
♪♪
WHOA.
IT'S GETTING DARKER, MAN.
LET'S MOVE QUICK.
MY PLAN WAS TO GET THROUGH THIS VILLAGE
WITHOUT ANYONE NOTICING ME,
BUT MY TRUCK JUST BROKE DOWN, AND HERE I AM
WALKING INTO TOWN WHERE THE BAD GUY IS
WITH ABSOLUTELY NO BACKUP PLAN.
(motorcycle horn honking)
THE FIRST THING IS I GOT TO--I GOT TO SECURE A PLACE TO SLEEP.
FIRST THING IN THE MORNING WHEN I WAKE UP,
I GOT TO FIND A GARAGE.
MAN, IT'D BE GOOD TO HAVE A FRIEND RIGHT NOW,
I TELL YOU THAT MUCH.
COME HERE.
THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO.
OKAY, NEW STRATEGY.
EVERYTHING'S CHANGED.
(Hollywood) YEAH.
SEE THAT? THAT'S REBO.
OKAY...
BUT THEY CAN BE (bleep) FRIENDS.
NO, I KNOW THE OWNER. I MET HIM ONCE--JEAN MARC.
REBO--THEY'RE MERCHANTS THAT MAKE EVERYTHING
FROM COFFEE TO PEANUT BUTTER.
I MEANT JEAN MARC A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO IN PORT-AU-PRINCE,
AND I'M JUST HOPING SOMEONE HERE RECOGNIZES HIS NAME.
JEAN MARC?
LE--THE BUREAU.
OKAY, THERE'S AN OFFICE. LET'S GO THERE.
NO.
(speaking French)
I MEAN, THESE GUYS MIGHT THINK THAT I JUST KIND OF
CAME OUT OF NOWHERE, BUT YOU KNOW,
FLASHING THE NAME JEAN MARC, SO, UH,
THEY'RE GONNA CALL HIM.
JEAN MARC.
OH, JEAN MARC. I'M NOT TOO GOOD.
FIRST, I JUST NEED A BED,
AND THEN I NEED A FRIEND, BRO.
OKAY, OKAY.
OKAY, YOU GUYS WANT TO RECAP THIS?
WE ARE EXPERIENCING SOME SERIOUS COFFEE HAITIAN HOSPITALITY.
HE'S ACTUALLY GONNA LOAN ME THAT PHONE
SO THAT I CAN CALL HIM BACK LATER,
AND HE'S GONNA ORGANIZE A TRUCK SOMEHOW
AND SENT IT OUT IN THE MORNING.
COME ON.
WE'RE ACTUALLY GONNA BE SLEEPING IN THEIR OFFICES.
WE HAVE A BED HERE.
DO WE HAVE Wi-Fi?
THROW SOME MATTRESSES DOWN ON IT. WE'RE ON THIS (bleep).
IT'S LOW, BABY.
WHOA!
HOW YOU DOING?
I THINK YOU'RE THE MAN.
THIS IS BEAUTIFUL, MAN. YOU SAVED MY LIFE.
YES.
IT'S GONNA COST US AN ARM AND A LEG, I'M TELLING YOU.
YOU WANT TO COUNT IT?
OKAY.
UM...
OKAY, OKAY.
DON'T WORRY.
NOW I GOT A TRUCK. NOW I'M FREE, MAN. I GOT--I GOT WINGS.
I THINK THE BEST CHOICE NOW IS TO START HUNTING.
LET'S JUST START HUNTING.
LET'S GET UP IN THE MOUNTAIN AND HUNT IT DOWN.
IT'S TAKEN TWO DAYS AND TWO TRUCKS,
BUT I'M FINALLY SURROUNDED BY HIGH-ALTITUDE COFFEE.
NOW IT'S ALL ABOUT FINDING THAT PERFECT BERRY.
♪♪
COME ON UP. FOLLOW ME.
ALL RIGHT.
(Hollywood) OKAY.
THE HARVEST BEGINS LOW IN THE MOUNTAINS
AND MOVES UP IN THE MOUNTAINS DUE TO THE DIFFERENCES
IN--IN TEMPERATURE.
AND LET ME TELL YOU,
IF WE FIND A DRYING PLATFORM WITH LOADS OF THIS ON IT,
AND IT'S LIKE, BONE WHITE, IT'S SLIGHTLY YELLOW, MAN,
THAT'S--LIFE IS GOOD. IT'S BEAUTIFUL.
I DON'T WANT TO COME OFF AS A COFFEE NERD.
BUT JUST LOOK-- HOW CAN THIS NOT BE
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THING YOU'VE EVER SEEN?
LOOK AT THIS. YOU'RE SEEING THROUGH THESE BLOSSOMS
AT THIS LONE BERRY. LOOK AT THE BACKGROUND.
I ALSO SEE EVIDENCE HERE
OF WHERE THE FRUIT'S BEEN PULLED OFF.
THAT MEANS THIS IS BEING PICKED.
I NEED TO FIND OUT WHERE THAT BERRY WENT.
LET'S KEEP GOING UP NORTH. LET'S KEEP GOING UP THE MOUNTAIN.
LET ME GRAB SOME FRUIT.
I DON'T LIKE TO PULL THESE OFF THE TREES,
'CAUSE I FEEL LIKE I'M ROBBING SOMEONE,
BUT THESE ARE GONNA ROT ON THE GROUND,
SO WE'RE GONNA EAT THIS ON THE ROAD.
(Hollywood) NOW I'VE SEEN--
SHH, SHH, SHH, SHH, SHH.
(muffled voices)
I HEAR VOICES, MAN.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.
I HEAR VOICES. I DON'T-- WHAT IS IT, A COYOTE,
IS IT A FARMER, OR IS IT SOMEBODY
THAT DOESN'T WANT ME HERE? AND I GOT ONE OF THE THREE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT PEOPLE ARE HERE.
MAYBE THEY'VE COME TO PICK.
(man speaking indistinctly)
DID--OH, MY GOD.
LOOK.
(dogs barking)
THAT GUY'S NOT HAPPY WITH ME.
SORRY, YOUNG MAN.
I'M JUST GONNA CARRY A STICK.
I WON'T HIT 'EM.
THAT'LL JUST KEEP 'EM FROM YOUR ANKLES, OKAY?
OOH, HOUSE.
OKAY, I'M GONNA WALK SUPER "CAS," OKAY?
I DON'T WANT TO CREEP UP ON THE GUY.
ALLO?
BONJOUR?
CREEP AROUND.
WE GOT A DUDE STANDING IN THE FRONT WITH A MACHETE.
BONJOUR?
CREEP AROUND.
ALLO? BONJOUR?
I GOT A DUDE STANDING IN THE FRONT WITH A MACHETE.
(dogs barking)
ALLO?
BONJOUR?
(man) BIEN.
BONJOUR. TODD.
THAT'S LIVE APPROACH--
YOU FIND THE BERRY, YOU GO TO A HOUSE,
YOU GET DIRECTIONS FROM THE GUY WHO'S WORKING IT.
HE POINTS YOU UP THE ROAD, YOU FIND YOUR PLATFORM,
BINGO.
LET'S ROLL.
♪♪
GUYS, I THINK I'M GONNA PARK THIS MONSTER RIGHT NOW.
LET'S TAKE A WALK ABOUT
AND FIND OUT WHAT WE CAN FIND OUT.
(speaking French)
OKAY, I WANT YOU TO JUST GO OVER
AND JUST POKE YOUR CAMERA RIGHT OVER THIS WALL.
HELLO, BEAUTIFUL.
THIS IS BEAUTIFUL STUFF. COME ON IN. I'LL SHOW YOU.
MERCI, MERCI.
YOU'RE NEVER GONNA SEE ME GET TOO JACKED
WHEN I SEE A PLATFORM, BECAUSE THESE GUYS,
IF--IF THEY'RE WILLING TO SELL TO ME,
I'LL NEVER GET OUT OF HERE WITHOUT LOSING MY SHIRT
IF I ACT TOO JACKED, SO RIGHT NOW, HERE'S MY SMILE,
AND I'M NOT GONNA DO THAT AGAIN.
THIS IS BERRY.
WE GET SKINS.
COME DOWN HERE. SO THE BERRY, THE FRUIT--
YOU SEE THE BEAN? IT'S HERE.
ALL THE SKINS ARE GONE.
SHE'S PICKING THESE BEANS OUT LIKE THIS--
THE PROBLEM ONES.
SHE PUTS THE GOOD BEAN HERE.
IT'S VERY, VERY MANUAL.
THIS COFFEE COMES FROM AN ANCIENT STRAIN.
IT GROWS WILD, BEYOND ORGANIC, IN THESE MOUNTAINS.
NOT ONLY THAT, IT'S--EVERYTHING IS DONE BY HAND WITH CARE.
AND FINALLY, IT'S NOT DRIED WITH A MACHINE.
IT'S DRIED WITH WHAT'S OVERHEAD--THE SUN.
PERFECTLY--PERFECT, SUSTAINABLY GROWN, SUN-DRIED COFFEE.
AM I EXCITED? YES, I'M EXCITED.
THE QUESTION IS,
WILL THEY SELL TO ME?
BUYING THIS MUCH COFFEE DIRECT
COULD BE A GOLD MINE FOR MY BUSINESS
AND THESE FARMERS.
♪♪
HE'S NOT GONNA GIVE IT TO ME.
IT'S PROBABLE THAT IT'S SPOKEN FOR
BY SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T LIKE ME.
EVEN WORSE, THEY'RE TELLING ME
THAT THE ENTIRE MOUNTAIN IS SPOKEN FOR
AND THAT I NEED TO LEAVE--NOW.
I'VE GOT TO FIND A FARMER NOT CONTROLLED
BY THE MAN THEY CALL THE PRESIDENTE.
I WOULD JUST LOVE JUST TO DRIVE UP THE ROAD,
MEET MY FARMERS, BUY MY COFFEE,
AND GO HOME TO MY KIDS.
THAT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN.
WE GOT TO DO THIS THE (bleep) HARD WAY.
(truck horn honking)
♪♪
MAN, THAT MIGHT BE PICKERS RIGHT THERE.
LET'S GO.
LEAVE MY LIGHTS ON, OKAY?
THEY'RE JUST FINISHING UP NOW.
SALUT. BONJOUR.
♪♪
THAT'S BEAUTIFUL.
THE COFFEE FRUIT ITSELF IS A MASSIVE ANTIOXIDANT.
SO I TEND TO EAT IT, BECAUSE I DEFINITELY NEED
TO GET RID OF SOME FREE RADICALS.
(Hollywood) YES.
I CAN'T EVEN SEE YOU, MAN. IT'S GETTING DARK.
SO I GOT SOME GOOD NEWS, AND I GOT SOME BAD NEWS.
YOU READY FOR IT?
GOOD NEWS IS WE FOUND MORE BERRY,
AND WE'RE GONNA FIND A PLATFORM SOON.
THE BAD NEWS IS WE CAN'T DRIVE THAT TRUCK DOWN THIS MOUNTAIN,
SO WE'LL BE SLEEPING HERE.
WAY UP HERE IN THE MOUNTAINS, THERE'S A POPULATION
OF DECENT, HARDWORKING FARMERS,
BUT THERE ARE ALSO THIEVES AND ROBBERS
THAT COULD LIVE AN ENTIRE YEAR WITH THE THEFT OF THIS VEHICLE
AND EVERYTHING IN IT.
I DON'T MEAN TO BE A PAIN IN THE BUTT,
BUT YOU GOT TO KILL THAT LIGHT, DUDE, SERIOUSLY.
WE'RE ATTRACTING ATTENTION, MAN, AND THAT'S THE LAST THING
WE WANT TO DO RIGHT NOW, SO KILL IT, OKAY?
WE CAN DO THAT? OKAY.
YEAH, THIS IS HOME.
UM, CAN YOU EVEN SEE ME?
ALL RIGHT, IT'S SIN BLACK OUT HERE.
FIRST THING I'M GONNA DO IS I'M GONNA DISMANTLE THE VEHICLE
JUST IN CASE SOMEONE COMES CREEPING ALONG.
WE'RE GONNA SET UP CAMP,
AND WE'RE GONNA GET UNDER THE TRUCK.
TUCK YOUR BODY AND YOUR GEAR UNDERNEATH.
WHEN YOU START HEARING NOISE, I PUSH YOU, YOU ROLL OUT THE SIDE
WHERE YOU DON'T SEE FEET. IT'S ABOUT THAT EASY, OKAY?
I'M DISABLING THE CAR JUST IN CASE
SOMEONE KNOWS HOW TO HOTWIRE ONE.
THE LAST THING YOU WANT TO DO IS HAVE SOMEONE STEAL YOUR CAR
WHILE YOU'RE LYING UNDERNEATH IT, RIGHT?
SO IF I DISABLE IT, WORST-CASE SCENARIO IS
IT GETS STRIPPED, AND IT'S GONNA BE A LONG NIGHT.
♪♪
OH, THAT'S GREAT. I CAN SEE YOUR FACE.
OH, YEAH.
THE REASON I DON'T SLEEP IN A TENT
IS BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO BE BEAT
WHILE ZIPPED INSIDE OF A BAG.
I MEAN, A TENT, REALLY, YOU CAN'T SEE ANYONE COMING,
AND YOU CAN GET YOURSELF CLOBBERED,
AND YOU NEVER EVEN GET A LOOK AT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING IT.
I'D RATHER HAVE THE ABILITY TO ROLL OUT OF THIS TRUCK
AND AT LEAST RUN FOR MY LIFE.
OW.
ALL RIGHT, MAN.
THE KEY IS TRY NOT TO SNORE TOO LOUD,
AND IF YOU HEAR SOMETHING,
OKAY.
GOOD MORNING, HAITI. WET AND COLD.
(exhales slowly) BREATH.
I'D LIKE TO SLEEP SOMEWHERE A LITTLE BIT WARMER TONIGHT.
♪♪
WE GOT A GOOD VANTAGE POINT, COME ON.
I HATE--I HATE TO SEE CORN, MAN.
CORN MEANS FARMER NEARBY.
CORN IS AN EASY THING TO ROB. IT GETS ROBBED ALL THE TIME,
SO IT'S PLANTED NEXT TO THE FARMER'S HOUSE,
AND THEY'RE AGGRESSIVELY PROTECTIVE ABOUT IT.
I DON'T WANT TO BE STANDING AROUND IN A MAN'S CORNFIELD.
WHAT I'M INTERESTED IN IS THAT.
THAT WHITE BUILDING IS HIGHER THAN WE ARE,
AND I'LL BET YOU DIMES FOR DOLLARS
THAT IS A PLATFORM.
SEE HOW THE RIDGE OF THE MOUNTAIN
LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOT HAIR ON IT?
SOME OF THAT'S BANANA, SOME OF THAT'S CITRUS,
AND UNDER THAT IS GONNA BE COFFEE.
THEN IT SHOULD FLOW DOWN TO THAT PLATFORM.
THAT'S THE HIGHEST POINT. WE GOT TO GO BACK DOWN.
WE GOT TO GO BACK DOWN, AND WE GOT TO CUT ACROSS
THAT RIDGE SOMEHOW.
BANANA TREES PROVIDE SHADE AND MAINTAIN MOISTURE
IN THE SOIL ALL YEAR-ROUND--
THE PERFECT ENVIRONMENT FOR WILD-GROWN COFFEE.
WHEN I SEE BANANA AT THIS ALTITUDE,
I KNOW I'M GETTING CLOSE.
WE'RE AT 8,000 FEET.
WE GOT BANANA.
WE GOT COFFEE.
HOLLYWOOD, DON'T FALL BEHIND, MAN.
♪♪
GET DOWN.
BANANA.
BANANA AT 8,000 FEET.
THIS IS THE GOLD MINE.
WOW, COME HERE.
YOU SEE THAT PLANT RIGHT OVER THERE?
THAT'S THE HIGHEST ANCIENT STRAIN OF TYPICA
IN ALL OF HAITI.
SEE THAT (bleep)?
THAT'S THE TREASURE WE'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR.
YOU SEE THAT?
YOU DON'T NEED ME TO EXPLAIN HOW BEAUTIFUL THAT IS.
THIS IS SO SWEET,
IT'S LIKE CANDY,
AND WHEN IT ROASTS, I DON'T CARE WHO YOU ARE,
YOU'RE GONNA DRINK YOUR COFFEE AND GO,
"SOMETHING JUST CHANGED IN MY LIFE."
THE SIZE, THE ALTITUDE, THE DENSITY,
THE SOIL, THE STRAIN, WHERE WE ARE--
IT'S THE PERFECT STORM.
NOW I GOT TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THIS IS BEING PROCESSED.
IT'S NOT OVER. WE GOT TO KEEP GOING.
♪♪
THIS HAS GOT TO BE IT, MAN.
THIS IS THE END OF THE ROAD.
ALL RIGHT, THAT'S IT.
BUT LET'S FIND OUT WHETHER OR NOT
THEY'RE GONNA SELL TO ME, OKAY?
(speaking French) C'EST BON.
OH, MY GOD. THIS IS IT, MAN.
I'M EXCITED.
BONJOUR.
BONJOUR.
OKAY, EXCELLENT.
LET'S BUST THE KIT OUT, GUYS, COME ON.
THIS IS HUGE.
I FOUND A BRAVE OLD MAN WILLING TO SELL TO ME DIRECTLY
NO MATTER WHAT THE PRESIDENTE SAYS.
THERE'S ONE LAST THING I NEED TO DO--I NEED TO TASTE THIS.
THIS IS MY PORTABLE LAB.
IN SIMPLE TERMS, IT'S JUST A MINI LITTLE ROASTER.
START A FLAME UNDER HERE. I PUT COFFEE INSIDE THAT.
(sighs) HEATS UP. LITTLE PADDLES IN THERE.
I ROAST IT FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES UNDER A FLAME.
TAKE IT OUT, I GRIND IT,
PUT IT IN A CUP, MAKE COFFEE... (smacks lips) I TASTE IT.
THIS IS THE MOMENT OF TRUTH.
I'VE RISKED MY LIFE AND REPUTATION
FOR THE HIGHEST COFFEE IN HAITI.
IT DOESN'T GET ANY HIGHER THAN THIS.
IF THIS ISN'T AMAZING, I'M TOAST.
YOU HEAR ME RELATE COFFEE TO MUSIC A LOT.
I'M LISTENING FOR SOMETHING.
I'M ALWAYS JUST LOOKING FOR THE NEXT BIG HIT.
THERE'S ALWAYS A CHANCE THIS COULD BE MY NEXT BIG HIT SONG,
AND THERE'S ALWAYS THAT EXCITEMENT
THAT THIS IS THE MOMENT THAT I'M GONNA REMEMBER
WHEN I DISCOVERED THAT BIG HIT.
♪♪
(rooster crowing)
ME, TOO, BROTHER.
♪♪
MMM.
(laughing)
LOOK AT THIS. (laughing) THAT IS--THAT IS GOOD.
WHOO. IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF AN EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCE.
SO COME ON, GUYS.
WE GOT THOSE FOUR. (laughing)
(laughing) OH, DUDE.
OH, GOD. OHH.
DUDE, I LITERALLY HAVE A TEAR IN MY EYE.
THAT'S BEAUTIFUL.
(rooster crowing)
(exhales deeply) I LITERALLY AM FREAKED OUT.
♪♪
THIS MEANS A LOT TO MY BUSINESS.
I'M LEANING ON ABOUT-- STREET VALUE--
$65,000, $75,000 OF COFFEE.
THERE WAS A LOT OF TIMES THERE I'M TELLING MYSELF,
"WE'RE GONNA FIND IT, WE'RE GONNA FIND IT."
I DIDN'T--I WASN'T SURE.
YOU KNOW, I DROVE LIKE A CRAZY PERSON UP THESE MOUNTAINS.
I HAD TO SLEEP UNDER MY TRUCK AND EAT POWER BARS
AND I WANT TO BUY COFFEE, BUT THESE PEOPLE ARE AFRAID
TO SELL TO ME. LET'S ADMIT IT. I'M WORKING AGAINST THE STREAM.
IT'S BEEN A LONG TRIP,
AND I'M PROBABLY BEING A BAD BUSINESSMAN,
BECAUSE THE OLD GUY IS NOW JACKING UP THE PRICE.
HE DESERVES IT... (sighs) SO LET ME GET OUT THE MONEY
AND PAY THIS GUY.
COME ON, BABY.
THIS IS WHERE I ROAST OVER 3 MILLION POUNDS
OF COFFEE EVERY YEAR,
AND TODAY, SOMETHING SPECIAL.
AH, YOU HEAR THAT NOISE? THAT RINGING?
THAT'S GREEN COFFEE RUNNING DOWN THIS PIPE.
NOT JUST ANY GREEN COFFEE, BUT HAITIAN GREEN COFFEE
THAT I FOUND IN THE HAITIAN MOUNTAINS.
THIS COFFEE HASN'T FINISHED ITS JOURNEY YET.
I'D KEEP YOUR CAMERA RIGHT UP HERE ON THIS WINDOW.
I'VE GOT TO SEE HOW IT PERFORMS IN THE ROASTERS.
MY REPUTATION IS AT STAKE
EVERY TIME I BRING BACK A NEW EXOTIC BEAN
FROM COUNTRIES LIKE HAITI.
THE FIRST THING I'M LOOKING AT IS
THE CONSISTENCY WITHIN THE ROAST.
I MEAN, LOOK ACROSS IT-- ONE EVEN COLOR.
YOU'RE NOT SEEING ALL THE DIFFERENT BEANS
OF DIFFERENT COLORS COMING OUT.
YOU SEE HOW IT ALL MARRIES TOGETHER SO WELL.
YOU CAN SEE JUST A LIGHT SKIM OF OIL ON IT.
THAT'S JUST PACKED WITH FLAVOR.
THIS IS WHAT WE'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR.
IT'S JUST BEAUTIFUL.