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Uncommon Grounds

Uncommon Grounds

By Mark Pendergrast

The History of Coffee and How It Transformed the World. Basic Books, 2019.

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21 mins read

17 Key insights

A brief summary of Uncommon Grounds

A chronicle of coffee’s intriguing journey from obscurity to global fame, delving into its sometimes-controversial history and the individuals most impacted by its rise to prominence.

Key insights in Uncommon Grounds

1
What do you get from this book? Coffee's spellbinding impact on world cultures, from beans to buzz
2
People worldwide depend on coffee, but its checkered history reveals complex social and economic dynamics
3
Coffee's global journey spans centuries, beginning with an African goatherd and intertwining controversial themes like war and rebellion
4
Slavery cast a significant, albeit grim, shadow over coffee plantations throughout the nineteenth century
5
America's coffee craze fueled innovation and rivalry, transforming the industry into a perilous battleground
6
Both German entrepreneurs and Brazil's own government played pivotal roles in shaping the coffee market
7
Consumers grew to fear coffee due to marketing tactics portraying it as dangerous
8
Before World War I, US roasters fought for market share; after the war, it was Brazil fighting to stay afloat
9
The twentieth century was chaotic: established roasters went bankrupt, the stock market crashed, and Latin America faced revolution
10
Just as coffee companies rode the radio wave to success, World War II threw a wrench in their plans
11
Coffee consumption dwindled throughout the fifties as quality declined and prices soared
12
In the mid-twentieth century, passionate coffee drinkers sought to transform coffeehouses and society
13
As Americans finally grasped the challenges facing coffee growers, they flocked to artisanal roasters for sustainable brews
14
Starbucks dominates the coffee world today, but as history has taught us, nothing is certain
15
Summary of the key insights
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Selected critiques in brief
17
Final word

Who should read Uncommon Grounds

Coffee enthusiasts • history buffs • socially conscious consumers • global travelers • anthropology students • professionals in the coffee industry

About the author of Uncommon Grounds

Mark Pendergrast is an American scholar, book reviewer, and author with over a dozen titles to his name. His most notable works focus on the histories of Coca-Cola and coffee, as well as repressed memories. Pendergrast volunteers at the National Center for Reason and Justice, a nonprofit that supports individuals wrongly accused or convicted of crimes.

author avatar

Mark Pendergrast

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