It is very much actual history. Coffee was nothing short of world-changing when it hit Europe. It was safer than water. It made you more productive. It made you smarter. It didn’t make you drunk. In an age where NOT being seen falling down drunk was notable and per capita consumption of strong beer was 4-5 liters a day coffee changed everything.
It’s been covered in great detail. Two well-researched but very readable treatments below:
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