How Was Coffee Originally Made? (Solved & Explained!)

The heritage of the world’s coffee traces back to either Ethiopia or Yemen, depending on which legend is being told. However, most people agree that a goat herder named Kaldi is attributed to first discovering the beans and their beneficial properties and recipes.

This article will look at a few historical facts about coffee, where it originated from, the first recipe, and how additives became part of coffee recipes.

How Were Coffee Beans Discovered?

Legenda says that the sheep of Kaldi, the herder, became so energetic after eating berries from coffee trees that they didn’t sleep. So Kaldi tried the beans himself, noted their stimulating effects, and passed his findings on to an abbot of the regional monastery who used the berries to make a drink. 

After drinking the mixture, the abbot noticed that he was way more energetic than usual, and the drink kept him awake and alert for long hours of prayer. Finally, the abbot shared the discovery with other monks, spreading the knowledge.

Later, the popularity of beans reached the Arabian peninsula, and from there, they slowly spread across the world.

What Was The First Coffee Recipe?

The abbot of the regional monastery came up with the idea of making a drink out of herder’s first discovered beans with the following process:

• First, the abbot placed the berries in a fire, noting an exquisite aroma from them.
• The newly roasted coffee beans were collected from ashes and were ground. 
• The roasted beans were then dissolved in high-temperature water. 

How Was Coffee Originally Consumed?

In ancient days, the coffee beans were roasted and used to make a paste of roasted beans and animal fat. This paste was used as a sauce in many food recipes. At some places, the whole coffee fruit was eaten as a fruit. Some peeled off their outer skin and ate the remaining portion as a fruit source. 

Later the coffee beans were extracted, and the beans were rotated and used to make coffee. These beans were crushed into powder form and brewed in water. Later, water was replaced by dairy products such as milk, cream, and sugar for better taste.

Jean Baptiste de Belly, in 1800, is attributed with preparing the first drip coffee pot.

What Was The Original Name Of Coffee?

Due to its Arabian origin, it was named ‘Arabian Wine’ in Europe. The coffee names have different roots in different regions. Coffee had its ancient name ‘Qahwa’ in Yemen, later altered as Turkish ‘Kaveh’. In the Dutch language, it was called Dutch ‘Koffie’.

When Were Milk And Sugar Added To Coffee?

In 1625, the Egyptians first introduced sugar in coffee. They devised a brewing method to boil the coffee powder and add sugar. This was allowed to sit and brew for some time and resulted in sweet and syrupy coffee beverages. Similarly, Johan Nieuhof, in 1660, first introduced milk in coffee. 

Adding sugar and milk to the coffee became a popular trend by the end of the 17th century. It is uncommon to see coffee drunk without milk or sugar in the modern age, but that was not always the case, especially in the beginning days for coffee.

When Was Sugar And Milk First Added In Coffee In Europe?

Jerzy Franciszek, a German, first introduced milk in coffee in Vienna, Europe. He was honored as a hero for introducing taste to coffee. In the 17th century, milk and sugar were added to coffee as essential luxuries.

Jerzy Franciszek was also rewarded with bags of coffee beans and a good amount of money by Turkey, which he used for making a cafe.

Do Europeans Put Sugar in Their Coffee?

Most Europeans add sugar to their coffee. However, the culture of sweetened coffee is varied all over Europe, from Germany’s famous Pharisaer coffee to Slovakia’s Viennese.

In some regions, there is no concept of adding sugar to the coffee as it is thought to compromise the originality and taste of the coffee, but the health benefits are somehow suppressed. While in other areas, the flavor is preferred above everything.

According to Agnieszka, it is more of personal and cultural preferences to add sugar to the coffee. For instance, famous Metrio coffee is made by adding sugar in hot boiling water and is well stirred until it reaches a particular texture.

Why Did People Start Adding Milk and Sugar to Coffee?

People started adding milk and sugar to the coffee to reduce coffee’s bitterness and make it rich, bubbly, and delicious. 

The components such as proteins in milk lessen the bitterness of coffee by binding to polyphenols such as tannins. People who like sweetness add sugar to coffee to reduce its bitterness. Fat in milk changes the texture of coffee; it makes your coffee thick, rich in nutrients, and soothing to drink.

Chlorogenic acid works in the brightness of coffee. Therefore, when chlorogenic acid reacts with coffee, it reduces its acidity.

Who First Started Cultivation Of Coffee Plants On Large Scale?

By the end of the 17th century, Arabians, Ethiopians, and Italians started cultivating coffee plants on a large scale. The plantation of the first coffee plant was in Yemen, which was essentially a dedicated space to grow, harvest, and process coffee.

When Did Coffee Become Popular Around the World?

Coffee became famous in 1864 by two brothers named Charles and John. They started to purchase roasted coffee beans and sold these in paper bags in pond currency. They found great success in selling the beans and expanded their business to west America and then worldwide.

James Folger followed this idea and started selling the roasted coffee beans to gold miners in California. This selling coffee beans brought new names to the market, such as Maxwell House and Hills brothers. They are the oldest names of coffee producers around the world.

In 1960 there was complete awareness of coffee beans all over the world. This inspiration led to the opening of the first Starbucks in 1971 in Seattle. Coffee has become a good product for trade.