Beyond the buzz, caffeine didn’t start with coffee, but is undeniably a staple of many peoples’ days around the world (ours included). From the cultural roots of coffee to third-wave coffee and its’ modern-day role as a catalyst for capitalism, coffee has a complex history filled with colonialism and thievery. In this episode, we explore coffee’s journey from a local queen into a global phenomenon and consider the other purposes caffeine serves in the more-than-human world. We also pose the question, why do queer people seem so drawn to coffeehouses and coffee culture? What we found is that our relationship with coffee is a bittersweet one. While coffee can be a vehicle for resistance and liberation for some, it also serves as the driver of the continued exploitation of people who are socially and economically disadvantaged. Come along with us and we find out what made the divas have a change of heart, taking coffee from the “Satanic bean” it once was to a drink we clamor for on a daily basis.
Thank you to the sponsor of this episode, Toast and Coffee! Located at 2416 N Robinson Ave here in Oklahoma City. Come to Out Loud: Queer Storytelling on January 28th.
Works Cited
How People Do Gender at a Coffee House
Queer Temporalities at a Community Coffeehouse
Gender Equality in the Coffee Sector
Eons: Why does Caffeine Exist?
Documentary - Black Coffee, the Irresistible Bean
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