With the rise of coffee shops around the city, you may have noticed that some take more time in selecting their coffee beans than others.

You see, the history of coffee is a dark one. Like many cash crops, coffee plantations were grown to satisfy the consumer with no thought given to those who had to work the land. Here’s Huffington Post’s input:

In order to feed European demands for coffee once the drink caught on in the late 1700s, slaves were put to work on coffee plantations. Brazil ― which is still the biggest producer of coffee on the planet ― was notorious for its ill treatment of slaves. Many slaves died after only eight years working on a coffee plantation. Brazil was the last nation to abolish slavery in Latin America, so this went on for a long time.

Interesting, huh? Although this is slowly changing, those who work the plantations still earn less in a day than the cost of one of your flat whites.

Eater has a series of videos telling the history of certain staples – and their latest is coffee. Watch it HERE.

“So I guess, buy local and know your source,” she says, taking a sip of her Nestle Gold.

[source:huffingtonpost]