Hello historians and welcome. In this week's video, we explore the rich and bold history of the rise of coffee. Although commonly associated with the massive coffee producers of the 20th century, Brazil and Central America, coffee as a world commodity actually had its start in the highlands of Ethiopia before crossing the Arabian Sea to the famous port of Mocha in modern-day Yemen. From there, coffee consumption quickly spread alongside Islam around the Muslim World. Before Europeans started brewing their own coffee in the salons of Paris, Sultans, monks, and martial artists in Southeast had already developed a penchant for a strong brew. So, please join on another exciting history exploring Southeast Asian history and the region's role in the global spread of coffee.

For more information on the history of coffee in the Muslim World and Southeast Asia see:

Gregory Dicum, “Colony in a Cup,” Gastronomica 3, 2 (Spring 2023): 71-77.
Shane J. Barter, “Coffee: An Indian Ocean Perspective,” De Gruyer (2016)
David Bulbeck, Anthony Reid, Lay Cheng Tan, and Yiqi Wu, Southeast Asian Exports Since the 14th Century: Cloves, Pepper, Coffee, and Sugar (Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, 1998).
Fernando E. Vega, “The Rise of Coffee,” American Scientist (March-April 2008).