Build For Tomorrow Coffee: The Original Controversial Drug
Nov 20, 2017
In this lively discussion, Mark Pendergrast, author of 'Uncommon Grounds,' reveals coffee's tumultuous history. He shares outrageous claims made against coffee, from impotence to brain damage, and how these controversies only fueled its popularity. Pendergrast explores the rise of Arabica coffee, John Harvey Kellogg's anti-coffee antics, and coffeehouses as political hubs. The conversation humorously intertwines coffee's cultural significance with a lighthearted look at historical perspectives, making a strong case for why coffee truly is the best part of waking up.
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17th Century Coffee Sex Debate
- The Women's Petition Against Coffee claimed men became impotent and disinterested in sex due to coffee addiction.
- Men countered with a pamphlet claiming coffee improved sexual vigor.
Coffee's Historic Controversies
- Coffee has historically been controversial for two recurring reasons: health risks and political threat.
- These concerns have appeared repeatedly across centuries and cultures.
Origins and Early Bans
- Coffee was discovered in Ethiopia, first used by Sufi monks to stay awake for prayers around 1400s.
- Early coffee houses became hubs for socializing and satire, prompting initial bans like in Mecca in 1511.
