How Coffee Changed the World
Summary
Host Soni Kassem and Professor Jonathan Morris trace coffee’s journey from Ethiopian myths to global dominance. They explore its origins as a Sufi aid, its role in creating modern finance through London coffeehouses, and its dark legacy in fueling the transatlantic slave trade. The episode also covers the rise of Italian espresso and Starbucks, illustrating how this simple drink shaped public life, commerce, and culture worldwide.
Topics discussed
Introduction: Coffee's trial and global impact
Episode overview and guest introduction
The legend of Kaldi and the discovery of coffee
Coffee cherries, beans, and the roasting process
The chemistry of roasting and Maillard reaction
Global supply chain: from farms to ports
Caffeine: a natural pesticide and stimulant
Sponsor segment: ButcherBox
Sufi mystics and the religious origins of coffee
The 1511 Mecca ruling and coffee houses
Coffee houses as democratic public spaces
Ottoman Empire and coffee's spread to Europe
London coffee houses and the birth of finance
Coffee and the European Enlightenment
Colonial expansion and the Dutch/French plantations
Slavery in Brazilian coffee production
Legacy of slavery and global inequality
Invention of espresso and post-war Italy
Mass tourism and the rise of Starbucks
Modern coffee culture and democratic ritual
Conclusion and show credits
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