Consumed
by millions on a daily basis, already viewed as semi-valuable, could
coffee ever become the new currency of America? Maybe not in American
society today, but in a society where debit/credit cards and cash no
longer exist coffee beans could technically fill their place. Think
about it! Coffee beans are not readily available in America, they're
non-perishable, easy to count, and people are already addicted to
them.
There
is already a great demand for coffee in today's society. If something
were to happen which made coffee more of a rarity in America the
demand would stay the same, high, but the supply would be low enough
that people would be willing to trade to obtain the rare coffee
beans.
Are
people really that addicted to coffee that they would be willing to
trade something of value in order to receive just coffee? Yes, people
are already willing to pay five dollars for a cup of coffee from
Starbucks on a daily basis, if we had to switch to a new form of
currency it should be no big deal giving away something that is
probably worth more than some coffee beans. They are already trading
something that they believe to be valuable for the coffee, granted
they are also paying for the work of the barista, but the idea is
still the same. If coffee beans were no longer as readily available
their value would increase and people would trade what they could in
attempt to obtain the newly valuable commodity. Not only would they
be of high value because of their rarity but also because of the
already existing demand for the drink. Also, coffee comes in
different varieties. Each species of coffee would be worth a
different amount, depending on how rare the bean is. Coffee beans
also posses the quality of all being shaped approximately the same,
making them easy to count and carry. The only variable that would
change is the specie of coffee. The more ordinary species could be
used in the same way as change and the more rare, valuable ones, as
higher bills.
The
coffee bean is not frequently grown in America (other than in
Hawaii), making it more esteemed, but also more difficult to get a
hold of. If made into the everyday currency then there would have to
be an increase in the amount grown in the United States for
convenience as well as to allow there to be enough in circulation to
even consider it populous enough to be the currency for all. The most
known place that coffee beans are grown in America is Hawaii. The
ideal coffee environment, for growing Arabica coffee beans, would be
in the subtropical region at high altitudes with well defined rainy
and dry seasons. It is also suggested that they are grown in an
altitude between 1800-3600 feet. If it was necessary for a large
amount to be grown at once there are surely ways that can simulate
these conditions. Not to mention that with technology, and the many
possibilities, coffee could possibly be genetically modified to grow
more easily in American climates.
All
in all coffee beans posses the qualities to become a sufficient form
of currency in America, if necessary. Someday that morning cup of Joe
could be a luxury rather than part of the daily routine.
