Sir Nicholas Lawes, at his Temple Hall estate, experimented with a variety of crops and introduced the very lucrative coffee growing into the island in the 1720s.

The first mention of coffee in the US dates back to 1668. It was brought to New Amsterdam (now New York) either by the Dutch or by the British.

During the American Revolution, drinking tea was deemed unpatriotic, as it was the favoured drink of the British. So, coffee became the national drink. Back then, most US coffeehouses were also located in New England, and many of them had a clear political affiliation. Where the coffeehouse was situated or what it was named determined much of its patronage. For example, the British Coffee House in Boston was frequented by Redcoats (British soldiers) and other loyalists, while the Green Dragon, also in Boston, was a meeting place for the many dissenters against British rule.

Even after the US became independent, it still relied on its Atlantic neighbours and their coffee exporters. The USA sought to monopolise coffee as part of its imperialistic and cultural hegemonic efforts, overshadowing its foreign origins.

The Arbuckle brothers entered into a coffee roasting business together in Pittsburgh.In 1868, Arbuckle patented a formula for an egg-based glaze that coated coffee beans, protecting them from the air. In 1871, the brothers moved their business to New York City and formed the Arbuckle Brothers Company. They were the first merchants to sell packaged coffee.

"Depending on the time and place, coffee has been characterised as exotic, profitable, common, genteel, foreign, or patriotic. The coffee industry has been bound up with colonialism, enslavement, revolution, and nationalism, and has involved stakeholders such as entrepreneurial traders and planters, enslaved and coerced workers, ship captains and sailors, wholesale and retail merchants, storekeepers and vendue masters, marketers and advertisers, and a range of purveyors and consumers that run the whole social gamut. Those involved in its trade went to great lengths to ensure access to regional producers, and to retain and defend these connections through diplomacy and even war."

offee Nation is a fascinating deep dive into the history, culture, and global impact of coffee. Michelle Craig McDonald crafts an engaging narrative that blends historical analysis with cultural commentary, making this book an insightful and enjoyable read for anyone interested in the beloved beverage.

One of the book’s greatest strengths is its thorough research, which brings to life the intricate trade networks, economic shifts, and societal changes shaped by coffee. McDonald presents the information in an accessible and engaging way, avoiding dry academic prose while still offering a wealth of knowledge. The discussion of coffee’s influence on different regions and industries is particularly compelling, shedding light on both the positive and exploitative aspects of its production and consumption.

At times, the pacing slows due to dense historical detail, and certain sections could have been more streamlined. However, these moments are balanced by the book’s overall readability and the richness of its subject matter. Whether you’re a casual coffee lover or someone deeply interested in its history, Coffee Nation is an enlightening and rewarding read. Four stars.

As a coffee aficionado I was excited to learn more about this drinks history. As an American we hear plenty about tea, booze, textiles and how it shaped our economy. This book was through and interesting. It read like a textbook at some points, but didn’t get too bogged down.