business
But first, coffee: The drink that energized the American Revolution
By James Doubek | NPR at LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio)
· July 4, 2026
· 7 min read
An illustration of the Boston Tea Party, when colonists dumped British East India Company tea into the harbor on Dec. 16, 1773. Some accounts say this marked a pivotal moment when Americans started loving coffee. But one historian says Americans were drinking lots of coffee before then.(Hulton Ar...
Key takeaway (Hulton Archive / Getty Images)A consequential act of defiance secured tea's place as perhaps the most iconic beverage of America's colonial era.
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Category: business ·
Published: July 4, 2026 ·
Source: LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) ·
Reading time: 7 min
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What is this story about? An illustration of the Boston Tea Party, when colonists dumped British East India Company tea into the harbor on Dec. 16, 1773. Some accounts say this marked a pivotal moment when Americans started loving coffee. But one historian says Americans were drinking lots of coffee before then.(Hulton Ar...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 4, 2026 by LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) and curated for The Los Angeles readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by James Doubek | NPR at LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio). To learn more about how The Los Angeles selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
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