The Tim Ferriss Show

#698: Dr. Mark Plotkin on Coffee, The World’s Favorite Stimulant — Chemistry, History, and More

382 snips
Oct 12, 2023
Dr. Mark Plotkin, an ethnobotanist and president of the Amazon Conservation Team, takes listeners on a fascinating journey through the world of coffee. He unpacks its rich history, from its Ethiopian origins to its role in shaping cultural and intellectual life during the Enlightenment. The podcast highlights the transformative impact of coffee on American culture, weaving in personal anecdotes about a new coffee brand tied to conservation efforts. Plotkin's insights reveal coffee as more than a beverage—it's a catalyst for creativity and societal change.
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ANECDOTE

Coffee with Chicory

  • New Orleans, influenced by French colonialism, drinks coffee with chicory.
  • This tradition originated during the Napoleonic Wars when chicory was used as a coffee substitute/adulterant.
INSIGHT

Acquired Taste

  • Coffee, despite being bitter initially, becomes a necessity after repeated consumption.
  • This acquired taste demonstrates coffee's powerful effect on human behavior.
INSIGHT

Coffee and Consciousness

  • The "stoned ape" and "drunk monkey" hypotheses propose different drivers for human consciousness.
  • Writer Anthony Wilde suggests coffee, native to the Great Rift Valley, might have played a role.
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