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

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

by Mark Pendergrast (Author)

Synopsis

Uncommon Grounds tells the story of coffee from its discovery on a hill in ancient Abyssinia to the advent of Starbucks. In this updated edition of the classic work, 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 favourite beverages.

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More Information

Format: Paperback
Pages: 480
Edition: Revised
Publisher: Basic Books
Published: 07 Sep 2010

ISBN 10: 046501836X
ISBN 13: 9780465018369

Media Reviews
A focused and juicy history of our last legal and socially acceptable drug --Wall Street Journal
Pendergrast...has produced a splendid tale, setting out all one could hope to know about coffee. --Scientific American
Uncommon Grounds is not only a good read but a vital one. --Washington Monthly
Pendergrast's sprightly, yet thoroughly scholarly, history of America's favorite hot beverage packs the pleasurable punch of a double espresso. --Booklist
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
Pendergrast's account satisfies because of its thoroughness....Pendergrast unearths coffee-based trade wars, health reports, and caf 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's broad vision, meticulous research, and colloquial delivery combine aromatically. --Publishers Weekly
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
Author Bio
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, Mirror Mirror, Inside the Outbreaks, and other books. He lives in Colchester, Vermont.