Abstract
One of the consequences of United States‘ annexation of Puerto Rico was the quick decline of coffee produce, which was until 1898 the most important crop in the Island. This essay studies the struggle and failure of the Puerto Rican coffee producers to keep their product alive during the critical years of 1898-1918. Besides their determination and the popularity of Puerto Rican coffee in its traditional markets, there were many elements who made impossible the former conditions of marketing and selling prior to 1898. This essay analizes those elements, focusing on commercialization issues.