In Our Time

Coffee

Dec 12, 2019

Judith Hawley, an expert in 18th Century Literature, Markman Ellis, a Scholar in 18th Century Studies, and Jonathan Morris, a Modern Historian, delve into coffee's intriguing history. They discuss its Ethiopian roots, the rise of coffee houses in Europe, and their role in social change. The conversation highlights the dark aspects of coffee's colonial past and the impact of trading powers like the Dutch and French. They also explore Brazil's emergence as a coffee powerhouse and how societal perceptions of coffee have evolved, intertwining addiction and culture.

55:11

Creator website

Episode guests

Jonathan Morris

Markman Ellis

Judith Hawley

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Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Coffee houses in 17th century London revolutionized society by becoming hubs for business, intellectual discourse, and the exchange of ideas.

Merchants played a crucial role in spreading coffee culture westward, establishing the first coffee houses and fueling the growth of coffee trade.

The establishment of coffee plantations, particularly in colonies like Haiti and Brazil, led to the use of slave labor and significant economic impact.

Deep dives

The Origins of Coffee

Coffee was first consumed as a snack by goat or camel herders in Ethiopia or Egypt who observed its energizing effects. It eventually spread through trade and pilgrimage routes in the Ottoman Empire and beyond.

Intro

2min

The Rise of Coffee: From Sacred Brew to Social Hub

9min

The Rise of London's Coffee Houses

17min

The Evolution of Coffee Consumption

5min

The Rise of Brazilian Coffee

4min

The Addictive Nature and Societal Role of Coffee

2min

Brewing Cultural Contrasts: Coffee's Journey Through History

12min

The Cultural Shift in Coffee Consumption

3min

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the history and social impact of coffee. From its origins in Ethiopia, coffea arabica spread through the Ottoman Empire before reaching Western Europe where, in the 17th century, coffee houses were becoming established. There, caffeinated customers stayed awake for longer and were more animated, and this helped to spread ideas and influence culture. Coffee became a colonial product, grown by slaves or indentured labour, with coffea robusta replacing arabica where disease had struck, and was traded extensively by the Dutch and French empires; by the 19th century, Brazil had developed into a major coffee producer, meeting demand in the USA that had grown on the waggon trails.

With

Judith Hawley Professor of 18th Century Literature at Royal Holloway, University of London

Markman Ellis Professor of 18th Century Studies at Queen Mary University of London

And

Jonathan Morris Professor in Modern History at the University of Hertfordshire

Producer: Simon Tillotson

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In Our Time

Coffee

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

The Origins of Coffee

The Rise of Coffee Houses

The Spread of Coffee Culture

Coffee's Impact on Society and Trade

Evolution of Coffee Drinking Habits

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts