‘Elegantly written, witty and so wide in scope, so rich in detail and so thought provoking’ Joanna Blythman

It may seem like just a drink, but coffee's dark journey from the highlands of Ethiopia to the highstreets of every town in the country links alchemy and anthropology, poetry and politics, science and slavery. Plots have been hatched, blood spilled and governments toppled to keep your mug filled with fresh espresso.

In this thought-provoking exposé, Antony Wild, coffee trader and historian, explores coffee's dismal colonial past, its perilous corporate present, and the environmental destruction which could limit its future, revealing the shocking exploitation at the heart of the industry.

'an aromatic blend of colonial history and globalisation criticism' Ecologist

'an impressive mix of historical overview and contemporary analysis' Time Out

'Perfect ammo for destroying your Starbucks-guzzling workmates' Arena

‘an elegantly written, witty book, so wide in scope, so rich in detail, so thought-provoking in the subtle way that it develops its central thesis, that it is a challenge to do justice to it’ Joanna Blythman

‘This adrenalised swipe through the story of the mightiest of elixirs is written by a genius with all the economic facts and figures at his fingertips’ Good Book Guide

‘full of fascinating anecdotal detail about our favourite stimulant’ Geographical

Antony Wild worked for thirteen years as a buying director for the country's foremost speciality coffee roaster, and is widely credited with having introduced speciality coffees into the United Kingdom. He subsequently worked as a consultant, journalist and writer, specialising in colonialism and its history. He has written several books, including The East India Company and Remains of the Raj.