Surrogates: Anything but the coffee
Summary
Hosts James Harper and Jonathan Morris explore the history of coffee surrogates, tasting substitutes like chicory, acorn, and Postum that emerged during wars, economic crises, and health scares. They examine how political ideologies in Fascist Italy and Cuba forced the use of barley and chickpeas, while William Post’s anti-coffee campaigns shaped early wellness trends. The episode concludes with a critique of modern "beanless" coffee brands like Atomo, ultimately arguing that real coffee remains irreplaceable.
Topics discussed
Introduction: Solo travel and the concept of coffee surrogates
Tech demo: Malcudny's auto-adjusting espresso grinder
History: Coffee shortages during the French Revolution and Napoleon
Tasting: Acorn, dandelion, and chicory as historical surrogates
Ideology: Mussolini's Italy and the push for autarky
Economics: Cuba's export-driven coffee crisis and chickpea blends
Sponsor: Standout magazine promotion
Health scare: C.W. Post, Postum, and anti-coffee campaigns
Sponsor: WMF commercial espresso machines
Modern era: Otomo's beanless coffee and environmental guilt
Conclusion: Upcoming Guatemala episode and credits
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