An enthralling story that blends politics, environment, and economy. ?Editors' Pick: New York Times Book Review One of the biggest and most expensive commodities in the world is coffee. This is the origin, history, and threat to its future as told by Darjeeling's IACP Award-winning novelist. Arabica, the more common of the two primary varieties of coffee being grown today, originated in the cloud forests of southwestern Ethiopia, which are situated between the Great Rift Valley and the Nile. The Kafa region was basically off-limits to foreigners well into the 20th century since it was largely unknown to European explorers. This allowed the world's first coffee culture to develop virtually in isolation in the forests where the Kafa people now forage for wild coffee. Award-winning author Jeff Koehler takes readers from these forest origins along the remarkable voyage of its spread around the world while deftly weaving in the vast, interesting history of our beloved beverage. Coffee has never been more popular or better tasting, with caf?s practically on every corner of every town in the world. Nevertheless, production in Latin America, where 85% of Arabica is grown, is being severely hampered by illnesses and climate change. Breeders are going back to the original coffee woods, which are in danger and are rapidly disappearing, as the industry works to protect the species' survival. According to Koehler, "the forests around Kafa are not essential only because they are the source of a drink that is so significant to so many people."