Uncommon Grounds: The History of Coffee and How It Transformed Our World

Uncommon Grounds: The History of Coffee and How It Transformed Our World

Mark Pendergrast
$26.24
Publication Date: July 9th, 2019
Publisher:
Basic Books
ISBN:
9781541699380
Pages:
480
Usually Ships in 1 to 5 Days

Description

The definitive history of the world's most popular drug

Uncommon Grounds tells the story of coffee from its discovery on a hill in ancient Abyssinia to the advent of Starbucks. Mark Pendergrast reviews the dramatic changes in coffee culture over the past decade, from the disastrous "Coffee Crisis" that caused global prices to plummet to the rise of the Fair Trade movement and the "third-wave" of quality-obsessed coffee connoisseurs. As the scope of coffee culture continues to expand, Uncommon Grounds remains more than ever a brilliantly entertaining guide to the currents of one of the world's favorite beverages.

About the Author

Mark Pendergrast is an independent scholar who brews a fantastic cup of coffee. He is the author of many books, including For God, Country and Coca-Cola. He lives in Vermont

Praise for Uncommon Grounds: The History of Coffee and How It Transformed Our World

"With wit and humor,

Pendergrast has served up a rich blend of anecdote, character study, market

analysis, and social history....Everything you ought to know about coffee is

here, even how to make it."—New York Times

"A focused and juicy

history of our last legal and socially acceptable drug."—Wall Street Journal

"Pendergrast's account

satisfies because of its thoroughness....Pendergrast unearths coffee-based

trade wars, health reports, and café cultures, bringing to light amusing

treasures along the way."—Mother Jones

"Ask anyone in the

coffee world and they will cite this book as a favorite...[I]t gives a

comprehensive understanding to the history and complexities of your favorite

drink."—The Kitchn

"Pendergrast...has

produced a splendid tale, setting out all one could hope to know about

coffee."—Scientific American

"Pendergrast's broad

vision, meticulous research, and colloquial delivery combine

aromatically."—Publishers Weekly

"Uncommon Grounds is not only a good read but a vital one."—Washington Monthly

"An exhaustive, admirably

ambitious examination of coffee's global impact, from its roots in 15th-century

Ethiopia to its critical role in shaping the nations of Central and Latin

America....Should be read by anyone curious about what goes into their daily

cup of Java"—Kirkus

"Pendergrast's

sprightly, yet thoroughly scholarly, history of America's favorite hot beverage

packs the pleasurable punch of a double espresso."—Booklist