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Why Did Coffee Become Popular?

Published in Coffee History 1 min read

Coffee's popularity surge stems largely from its adoption as a patriotic alternative to tea in America following the Boston Tea Party.

While coffee has a rich history spanning centuries and continents, its prevalence in America is tightly linked to a pivotal moment in colonial history: the Boston Tea Party of 1773. Let's break down the reasons:

  • The Boston Tea Party: This act of defiance against British rule, where colonists destroyed tea shipments, effectively made tea a symbol of British oppression.

  • Coffee as Patriotism: Americans, seeking an alternative beverage, embraced coffee. Drinking coffee became an act of patriotism and a rejection of British dominance.

  • Availability: Coffee beans became more readily available to American colonists. This increased supply helped solidify coffee's place as the new beverage of choice.

In short, the American rejection of tea following the Boston Tea Party created a void that coffee readily filled, becoming intertwined with the emerging American identity.

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