The Impact of Coffee on Global Trade and Culture

In 1699, the introduction of coffee plants from India to Java transformed global trade. Before this, coffee was a luxury in Europe due to an Arab monopoly. By the early 1700s, coffee production surged, particularly in the Caribbean, fueled by enslaved labor. This led to significant increases in European consumption of coffee and other goods, as trade routes connected Europe, Africa, and the Americas in what became known as the Atlantic system. This system facilitated the exchange of slaves for raw materials, which were then sold in European ports. Between 1700 and 1750, coffeehouses emerged, reflecting the growth of a new middle class and changing social dynamics.