How Coffee Became My Mentor…
For as long as I can remember, coffee has been a part of my life. I could remember waking up as a young kid to the breathtaking aroma of fresh french roast coffee that my grandfather would be preparing every morning before heading to work. We would come together and discuss life on our levels; there was something almost magical about coffee that seemed to bridge the gap of generations. As I got older, I still enjoyed coffee, yet I became more of an observer of coffee than a consumer. I would enjoy seeing how it would bring people together and how it became a silent third party bridging two worlds together to make history happen.
From Film To Reality
My curiosity about the impact of coffee increased so much more after I watch a Disney film called “Jungle 2 Jungle”. It was a good family film but what got my attention was how the father and his partner were trading coffee beans and the impact they had on the market. From this point I went to research more about the impact coffee had on the financial market. I saw firsthand how the end product connected people in restaurants and at home. I was really driven to understand the narrative behind the scenes. So I began to go to the local library and read books on coffee beans and their impact on history and trades. What set out as a journey to understand coffee began to turn itself into lessons on how the human psychology and habits developed in different countries but particularly the U.S. In some regards, the film that sparked my interest on what was behind the curtain had some segments of reality.
Birth and Development
When I began to dig into the birth of the coffee phenomenon, I found that it was first found in the 10th Century in the mountains of Ethiopia in Africa. From here coffee spread from the Middle East to Europe and filtered through their colonial empire. What I recognized through studying is the patterns in the process of coffee. A lot of GDP’s, employment, and foreign exchange earnings are impacted by the production of coffee. There are many countries that are impacted by agricultural growth and affected by wars that transpire where coffee is produced. In between the 1500’s and the 1600’s, the moral and political process if it became widely debated if it should be excepted as a credible drink until Pope Clement ended the argument and declared it was acceptable. From 1650 when one coffee house started in Oxford England, it began to spread into a plethora of coffee shops over the years. With coffee having a history as rich as its taste, it’s no wonder it has such value today. Many companies like Starbucks pay homage to the birthplace of coffee by offering specific blends from that historical land, while offering new and creative blends relevant to each of its clients taste.
Market Impact
The history always effects the way things are shaped in the present. The current market in the U.S. show that up to 50% of the population intakes coffee on a daily basis. There are approximately 24,000 coffee shops across the country and independent coffee shops equal $12 billion in annual sales (for more on this click here). One of the key things I learned over time was that the market wants what the market wants. Whatever has value, is capable of sustainable growth, and has a creative narrative will go far in the market. Once you break the language barriers of any demographic (age group or nation) you have the ability to make history. Once you get the attention just make sure you have the ability to hold it and build up. The aroma of coffee can draw many but the taste could divide the crowd.
For all of those who don’t study history and just live your life without looking at the past, I would encourage you to take part in creating and valuing history, not just consuming it without full comprehension. If coffee has helped impact society over time, what are you going to do sustain the value of your vision?
