“Healthful, non-intoxicating alternative to beer” or “dangerous foreign substance contributing to corruption and impotence”? Coffee has been called many things, but many today simply see it as an integral part of their morning routine. Especially as temperatures drop, nothing quite satisfies like a warm cup of brew from your favorite coffee house. In today’s Nerdy Curio, brought to you by Engines of our Ingenuity, learn about the rich history of these places once considered integral—and even dangerous—public spaces for the sharing of news, ideas, and innovations.

Aired June 7, 2016

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