Uncommon Grounds (New edition)

First published in 1999 Uncommon Grounds tells the story of coffee from its discovery on a hill in ancient Abyssinia to the advent of Starbucks and the coffee crisis of the 21st century. Mark Pendergrast uses coffee production trade and consumption as a window through which to view broad historical themes: the clash and blending of cultures slavery the rise of brand marketing global inequities fair trade revolutions health scares environmental issues and the rediscovery of quality.

As the scope of coffee culture continues to expandUncommon Grounds remains more than ever a brilliantly entertaining guide to one of the world's favorite drinks.