History of Coffee: How it became a beloved beverage

Coffee has become a staple beverage with numerous variations seen in millions of cafes around the globe. To reach this point, coffee has gone through a long journey from its humble beginnings. In this article, you can learn more about where coffee came from and the growth of coffee culture worldwide.

The Comprehensive History of Coffee

Coffee has reached iconic status by becoming an essential in our everyday lives. For many, a cup of coffee is a staple in their daily routine while some nations have been considering the drink as an indispensable part of their culture. Before all that though, coffee began its long journey from humble beginnings in Africa.

Gradually, it gained attention from other regions from Europe, the Middle East, and America. The more coffee traveled, the more variations came to be as people all around the world fell in love with its.

Coffee was first discovered in Ethiopia

Coffee was first discovered in Ethiopia

The Origin of Coffee

Coffee's Birthplace in Africa

Most sources consider the birthplace of coffee to be Ethiopia, a landlocked country in Eastern Africa with diverse climates. The favorable weather conditions in Ethiopia allow coffee plants to grow in the country’s highland regions.

The discovery coffee is most commonly linked to the nomadic Oromo people living in Ethiopia and Northern Kenya. In fact, many believe that the Oromo were the very first people to discover its stimulating properties and begin cultivating it.

However, there are quite a few interesting legends about coffee’s birthplace.

The Coffee Discovery Story

The most common story about coffee discovery credits a goat herder named Kaldi in 800 A.D. During one of his usual trips herding the goats, he suddenly found them unusually energized after consuming some peculiar-looking berries. He tried some himself and felt the same effects.

Not really knowing what to do, he brought the berries to some monks, who proceeded to throw them into a fire in fear of these berries being the work of sinister forces.

However, the berries produce an incredible aroma, which prompted the monks to preserve them in hot water. They went on to drink the concoction, which is the coffee we know and love today, and found that it helped them stay awake.

There are other conflicting accounts of how coffee was discovered, with some of them stating that the origin of coffee was Yemen. Yet, many still believe that coffee found in Yemen were imported products from Ethiopia.

The First Coffee Drinkers in History

Now that you know how coffee was discovered, the next step should be finding out who the first coffee drinkers were and how people enjoyed coffee in ancient times. After gaining attention in Ethiopia and other neighboring regions, coffee has found its way to other countries like Yemen, Egypt, Syria, and Turkey by the 16th century.

This journey marks the first applications of coffee in people’s daily lives as well as the infancy of coffee culture.

Coffee houses are the beginning of coffee culture

Coffee houses are the beginning of coffee culture

 Coffee Consumption in Ancient Civilizations

At first, coffee in ancient times was not considered a beverage but more of a drink to keep people alert and awake for nighttime praying. It was not until the 15th century, or 1475 to be exact, that the first coffee house was a thing.

Here, people consume coffee leisurely, dedicating their time here to enjoy the drink, chat with others, listen to music from live performers, or just sit back to pass the time. In a way, this can be considered the beginning of coffee culture, when the drink began to be associated with the experience of socializing and taking a break from the usual routine.

In fact, early coffee houses were also called “Schools of the Wise”, where people would come to catch up on the latest news or converse with new people. Thanks to the inception of coffee houses, the drink started to become even more popular.

Coffee’s Spread Through the Middle East and Europe

Continuing the journey, coffee found its way to Europe. As the 17th century came by, coffee had garnered considerable attention and become popular in the continent. The concept of coffee houses being the vibrant social hubs remained when the coffee takeover began in Europe.

Countries like England, Germany, Austria, and France welcomed coffee culture with open arms, especially during a time when the public was looking for an affordable alternative to the usual breakfast beverages like wine and beer back then.

Coffee began taking over the world in Europe

Coffee began taking over the world in Europe

Safe to assume that as coffee culture grew and people began to consume coffee in the morning, they started the day more energized and increased their efficiency at work.

In London, coffee house were given the name of “penny universities” as here, people could get access to newspapers, great conversations, and a hot cup of coffee with a penny.

With that said, coffee did meet some resistance when it first entered because some felt that the bitter taste of the beverage implied that the drink was a “sinister” product.

However, according to many sources, Pope Clement VIII had to interfere and tasted the drink himself. Needless to say, he found coffee to be tasty and approved its usage.

Coffee’s Journey to America

Same as previous developments, there are wildly different accounts about how coffee made it to America. Based on what we know now, Brazil leads the world in coffee production, so chances are, this country was where coffee entered the continent.

According to some sources, it started on the island of Martinique, where a seedling from a plant in Amsterdam was given to a representative of the French Guiana emperor. That bunch of seeds had kickstarted a billion-dollar coffee industry in America today.

American coffee production is unmatched

American coffee production is unmatched

The Role of Coffee in American History

By the 18th century, coffee became one of the most sought-after products in the entire world while also slotting itself into the daily lives of Americans, especially after the Revolutionary War. Soldiers, travelers, citizens, and people from all walks of life began considering coffee as their go-to drink.

Additionally, the beverage continues to be the center of social discussions in coffee houses, effectively keeping coffee culture thriving. This is mostly thanks to the versatility of coffee. It can be used as a drink to energize you or just a leisure beverage. Either way, Americans responded very positively to coffee and since had weaved the drink and the culture into their own.

From being the lifesaver of soldiers on the battlefield to a method to express oneself of the younger generation, coffee has done a tremendous job embodying the American spirit: free and robust.

The Etymology of Coffee

How about the name “coffee”? Since the drink originated from Ethiopia, how did it get its name in English? The word “coffee” is probably derived from the Arabic word “qahwa,” then “kahve” in Turkish. Another potential origin is the Dutch word “koffie.” Evidently, most of the origin words belong to the countries that witnessed the early days of coffee culture.

The Coffee History Timeline: Key Milestones

All in all, the major milestones of the history of coffee are as follows:

  • Estimatedly 6th Century - Ethiopians discovered coffee
  • 15th Century - The very coffee house opened
  • 16th Century - Coffee spreaded throughout the Middle East, Persia, and Egypt.
  • 17th Century - Coffee arrived in Europe.
  • 18th Century - Coffee is introduced to the Americas; plantations spread throughout the Caribbean and Brazil.
  • Late 18th to early 19th Century - Coffee became a staple in American households and soldiers’ rations.

So what can you learn from the history of coffee? First, we have Ethiopia to thank for the discovery of this delectable drink. Also, coffee was first consumed for its ability to energize and stimulate people. And lastly, coffee culture envelops more than just the drink. A cup of coffee is best served with an experience, either in the form of a good book, great company, or calming atmosphere.