1. The Muhammadan Bean: The Secret History of Coffee

In 2016, BBC Radio 4 produced a radio documentary on the origins of coffee. What did it teach us? That coffee was the Red Bull of its day for Sufi mystics in Yemen. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07tq8cd

2. The Monk of Mokha

American writer David Eggers is at his best when exploring the real-life perils of real-life people. For this book, he follows the Yemeni immigrant Mokhtar Alkhanshali who literally went through hell to put Yemeni coffee on the map. A nonfiction tale of coffee that reads like road novel. And seriously, the book looks awesome on a shelf.

3. Uncommon Grounds

Still the most comprehensive history of coffee. As far as histories are concerned, it’s a pretty fascinating read that you can power through in a few days..

4. Black Gold

This eye-opening documentary premiered at the 2006 Sundance festival and follows Ethiopian coffee-union manager Tadesse Meskela as he struggles to safeguard Ethiopian coffee farmers from Western exploitation. The sad but inspiring true story behind all your cappuccinos. Buy or rent on Vimeo today. https://vimeo.com/ondemand/blackgold

5. Filter Stories – Coffee Documentaries

This 28-part series of podcasts dives into the relationship between coffee producers and consumers. It’s an easy listen and goes in wildly different directions, but when done you’ll understand why Moyee and other radical coffee brands must exist. Listen to them all on Spotify. https://open.spotify.com/show/070rR9RuQFQk4pz3fXbmCK

6. God in a Cup

This thin book is all about the obsessive drive behind 3rd Wave coffee and the rise of specialty chains like Counter Culture, Intelligentsia and Stumptown. If Uncommon Grounds points out the problems, God in a Cup captures the journey towards solutions.