Coffee Nation: How One Commodity Transformed the Early United States at Connecticut Museum of Culture and History

This virtual book talk explores the surprising history behind one of the world’s most familiar commodities through the lens of Coffee Nation: How One Commodity Transformed the Early United States by historian Michelle Craig McDonald. Drawing on extensive archival and material research, the program traces coffee’s journey from slavery-based plantations in the Caribbean and South America to its rise as a daily staple in colonial North America and the early United States. The discussion highlights how coffee shaped the lives of enslaved laborers, merchants, consumers, and advertisers while influencing patterns of trade and consumer behavior across the Atlantic world.

The virtual presentation will take place on Thursday, January 8, 2026, from 6 pm to 7 pm and is free and open to the public. Advance registration is required to receive the Zoom link. Questions may be directed to Jen Busa, Public Programs Coordinator, at jbusa@connecticutmuseum.org. The event is presented by the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History, based in Hartford, Connecticut.