History of coffee

The Goatherd and the Goats

According to legend, coffee was discovered in the 9th century in the highlands of Ethiopia. The story tells of a goatherd named Kaldi who noticed the goats became more active when they ate the fruits of a certain plant. And when he decided to try those fruits, he also felt more energetic. The goatherd took some of the fruits to a monk, who began consuming them in the form of a tea when he discovered the drink helped him fight off sleep during times of prayer and meditation. This discovery quickly spread to various monasteries, creating a demand for coffee.

Cultivated in Yemen

Even if this legend is no more than a myth, there is evidence that coffee was first cultivated in Islamic monasteries in Yemen.

The world’s first coffee shop

Coffee was brought to Constantinople by the Ottoman Empire, and the world’s first coffee shop was established in that city.

Arrival in Europe

In the 14th century, before reaching the European continent, coffee was known as “wine of Arabia” due to being named “qahwa” by the Arabs, which means “wine”.

The fertility of Java

Roasted coffee, as we know it today, emerged around the 16th century. At that time, Dutch merchants recognised its commercial potential and convinced their government to plant it in Java, when the island was under Dutch rule. The fertility of the soil and excellent climate generated abundant harvests that satisfied the increase in demand.

In the Americas

Coffee was soon brought to the West Indies and later to South America, where it was extensively cultivated.

Nowadays...

Today, much of the coffee we consume comes from South America, Africa and Asia. It is estimated that, on average, 2 billion kilos of coffee are consumed worldwide per year.

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History of coffee