Caffeinated Crescent: The Story of Coffee in NOLA

Catalog description

New Orleans runs on culture, community, and coffee. This course dives into the bold and flavorful world of New Orleans coffee, tracing its journey from the city’s early days as a global coffee trade hub to the vibrant café scene that energizes neighborhoods today. Led by Darryl Glade, a New Orleans native, Professor of Practice in Real Estate, and owner of local coffee brand Brassline Roasters, this course blends history, culture, and a serious love of coffee. Students will explore how coffee is grown, roasted, and brewed while meeting the local roasters, entrepreneurs, and café owners who are shaping New Orleans’ coffee story. Throughout the semester, students will step beyond the classroom and into the heart of the city. Field visits to roasteries, coffeehouses, and historic neighborhoods will bring course themes to life. These hands-on experiences are designed to spark curiosity, deepen academic engagement, and help students see how something as everyday as a cup of coffee can tell a powerful story about place, people, and enterprise. As part of the TIDES first-year seminar program, this course offers an introduction to college-level learning in a relaxed but intellectually rich environment. Students will practice critical thinking, collaboration, and communication as they explore coffee through historical, cultural, and economic lenses. This one-credit course is more than just a class. It is a caffeinated adventure that invites students to sip, learn, and explore the Crescent City one cup at a time.