How Was Coffee Originated?

The origin of coffee is spoken in legends. There is no hard evidence to prove any of the backstories, so the initial discovery is one of a mystery. What we do know, however, is that coffee first originated in Ethiopia. According to the legends, this took place somewhere between the 9th to 13th centuries. Since then, coffee has been on a dramatic journey, spreading all over the globe. 

At first, all coffee cultivation and trading happened on the Arabian Peninsula. They defended its spread, but evidently lost. It was the Islamic world that originally drank coffee. Consumers largely found that they benefited from the energy boost during Ramadan, as it helped them vast during the day, and stay awake at night.  

The stories of discovering coffee

There are several legendary tales of the origin of coffee, with multiple claims to discovery. None can be proven wrong from right, however, it was the ancestors of today’s Oromo people, Ethiopia, who first cultivated the plant and fully recognized the energizing release it creates. 

Some of the most well-known legends are described below. 

The goat herder

The most popular account is that of an Ethiopian goat-herder from the 9th century, named Kaldi. One day he noticed that his flock were overly energized, almost like they were dancing, after nibbling on some bright red berries from a particular bush. He then tried out the contents of the bush himself.

His exhilarating experience drove him to deliver some of the berries to a monk in the nearby monastery, however, the monk was not convinced. He threw the berries into a fire. This is when they smelt an enticing aroma. This lead other monks to come by and investigate. 

Quickly, the roasted beans were soon sought out, ground, and dissolved in hot water. Therefore, creating the world’s first cup of coffee. 

The traveler

The second, lesser-known tale is about a Sufi mystic from Morocco, Gothul al-Shadhili. It is said that he first came across the coffee bean whilst traveling in Ethiopia. Gothul noticed some birds acting peculiarly, feeding predominantly on these bright red berries. His curiosity encouraged him to try them, and experienced magnificent effects. 

The healer

Yet another attribute to the finding of coffee goes to Sheikh ash-Shadili’s disciple, Omar. Omar was known to be able to cure the sick through the power of prayer, however, he was tragically banished from Mecca and forced to retreat to a desert cave not far from Ousad City. 

His lack of food lead to starvation and desperation, so he fed on red berries from nearby shrubbery. Nonetheless, raw, he found them too bitter. He then roasted the beans in an attempt to improve the flavour, but they became solid. He then boiled them, which allowed them to soften, creating an aromatic brown liquid. 

After drinking the coffee, Omar revived and survived several days in the cave. Stories of this ‘miracle drug’ reached back to Mecca, as such, Omar was asked to return and made a saint. 

The international growth of coffee

Arabian Peninsula 

The Yemeni district of Arabia had started growing its own coffee by the 15th century, and by the 16th, it was also known in Egypt, Syria, Persia, and Turkey. 

Coffee had not only become a home beverage, but also a social one. Many public coffee houses, called ‘gahveh khaneh’, were opened. Soon, they appeared across cities in the Near East. 

These were not simply places to drink and converse, customers also watched live performances, listened to music, played chess, and caught up on the current news. Coffee houses became of such importance for exchanging information that they were nicknamed ‘schools of the wise’.

Europe

As European travelers returned from the Near East, they brought with them stories of this strange black beverage. The hype and curiosity of the effects of the drink had quickly spread, and by the 17th century, coffee made its way over to Europe. Soon, popularity grew all over the continent. 

However, coffee was met with mixed emotions – so much so that to some people it was known as ‘the bitter invention of Satan’. 

In Venice, the controversy was ripe with the residents, causing the current leader, Pope Clement VIII to intervene. He took it upon himself to personally try the drink, and after being so satisfied with what he tasted, he gave the coffee the papal approval. 

Despite some disapproval, the consumption of coffee increased regardless. Coffee houses were frequented around many major European cities in countries such as Holland, England, France, Germany, and Austria. 

Soon, the beverage overtook the then-usual breakfast drinks, wine and beer. People who switched to coffee unsurprisingly found that their work performance improved and spent their days more energized and alert. 

Americas

Formally known as New Amsterdam, coffee was brought to New York in the mid-1600s. Despite coffee’s appearance, tea remained the favoured drink in the New World, at least that was until 1733. This is when the infamous Boston Tea Party took place, as colonists revolted against the heavy tax on tea by throwing 342 chests of tea from ships into the Boston Harbor. 

As the tax inflation had been implemented by the former king of the United Kingdom, George III, this only fueled the already existing tension between Britain and America. As a result, the event changed the preferred American drink to coffee. 

The story of coffee arriving on American soil starts off in Holland, when the mayor of Amsterdam gifted a young coffee plant to the king of France. 

Gabriel de Clieu, a French naval officer set out on a mission to bring the coffee plant to the western hemisphere. He encountered a challenging voyage, but managed to claim a seedling from the King’s plant which was located in the Royal Botanic Garden of Paris. 

The king was not willing to easily part with it. On his way home, Gabriel was met with a saboteur who tried to destroy the seed, a pirate attack, and incredibly bad weather. Nonetheless, he safely transported it to Martinique. The seedling thrived. It was the result of over 18 million coffee trees in Martinique alone, but also the parent tree of all coffee plants found in the Caribbean, plus South and North America. 

As for Brazil, they can thank Francisco de Mello Palheta for their famed coffee. He was sent to France to retrieve coffee seedlings from the emperor, and although the emperor himself was not willing to share, his wife was captivated by Francisco’s good looks. She gifted him a large bouquet of flowers, where hidden inside were enough coffee seedlings to start a billion-dollar industry.