My friend told me about drinking Ethiopian coffee with her mom. How it was almost an event, something that was sacred and had a ceremonial aspect to it. Cherished time together. I thought about how id like to indulge in as something as simple and common as coffee, in a more meaningful way. I went down a bit of a rabbit hole looking at coffee origins, but also how coffee has changed today. What does drinking coffee mean in 2026? How was it changed? Do you take sugar? Black? Iced?
I then saw a video about the relationship between coffee and capitalism and my rabbit hole became a cave. Here we go.
Coffee’s origin is dated back to Ethiopia where a goat supposedly became energetic after eating a particular plant. Coffee quickly became a cultural tradition and ritual for the people of Ethiopia. The coffee beans are roasted over an open flame, ground up by hand, and then slowly brewed in a pot. The purpose of this ceremony is to engage in conversation and hospitality, and be a time of reflection. Ethiopians didn’t rush coffee, it was intentional and meaningful.
We fast forward to picturing Europeans at cafes drinking coffee, still with the idea of coming together to chat and maintaining this idea and sense of community. Coffee was a hot drink, never meant to be drunken quickly, or as a means for energy to make it through the day.
For years I remember growing out watching the Folgers commercials, detailed with the classic image of a quiet morning at sunrise with a hot mug of coffee. This idea was reinforced across North America, the comforting aroma of fresh coffee during a moment of stillness in the morning. The term “coffee break” began to reflect this culture. It signified stepping away from your hectic day to slow down, reflect, and connect with others over coffee.
We saw the rise of modern capitalist work culture, but also the rise in coffee becoming about caffeine, not community. Economies became increasingly more focused on output and productivity and time itself became a resource to maximize. Rather than coffee being a break or a time for a pause, it became a fuel to work longer and harder.
Once coffee became a product of capitalism and reflecting an individual’s ability to work rather than enjoying their slow, sunrise, Folgers morning coffee, it stopped there. Kidding! Enter iced coffee! Unlike a hot cup of coffee that physically encourages sitting and sipping to avoid a burnt tongue, iced coffee can be had on the go. Commuting, walking, shopping, working. Iced coffee has become a drink that can be built around a life constantly in motion.
Coffee still connects people around the world, but what began as a ceremonial experience in Ethiopia has evolved as it entered the world. What began as a way to foster reflection and community has become a beacon of modern productivity. So, next time you enjoy your coffee (hot or cold), think about where it came from and what it means to you!