From the nation’s birthplace – Happy Independence Day! This weekend, we’re raising a brew to liberty and justice for all and celebrating the strong connection between coffee and American Independence.
During the American Revolution, drinking coffee became a mark of patriotism. Under the Stamp Act of 1765, tea was unfairly taxed without the input or consent of American colonists. Many supporters of independence renounced that typical British drink in favor of coffee, especially after the Boston Tea Party of 1773. During that event, colonists dumped hundreds of pounds of British tea into the Boston harbor, and the American taste for coffee was cemented.
Not only was drinking coffee at home a symbol of American pride, public coffeehouses also served as important meeting places for revolutionaries. Many of our Founding Fathers gathered in coffeehouses, planting the seeds of democracy while they conspired over a cup. Without these places for colonial leaders to meet and discuss their ideas, the American Revolution might have never been more than a minor rebellion.
We’re proud to carry on the traditions of coffee, change, and progress. In fact, our new Philadelphia cafe on Independence Mall is right next to the spot where the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776. Come visit us for a cup of America’s favorite drink, and have yourself a happy 4th of July!
