History of coffee
A brief overview of the history of coffee in the world
As the world celebrates International Coffee Day on October 1st each year, coffee remains a defining feature in the history of many people on Earth.
The history of coffee dates back to the 10th century and possibly earlier, according to several accounts and legends about its first users. It is believed that the original homeland of coffee was Ethiopia. The earliest documented evidence of coffee drinking or knowledge of the coffee tree dates back to the 15th century in the Sufi monasteries of Yemen. By the 16th century, it had reached the rest of the Middle East, southern India, Persia, Turkey, the Horn of Africa, and North Africa. Coffee then spread to the Balkans, Italy, the rest of Europe, Southeast Asia, and finally to the United States.
There are several mythical accounts of the origin of coffee, one of which relates to the Yemeni Sufi Ghathul Akbar Nur ad-Din Abu al-Hasan al-Shadhili, who, while traveling to Ethiopia, noticed birds exhibiting unusual vitality when eating the berries and experiencing the same energy, thus its discovery.
Another story concerns Kaldi, a ninth-century Ethiopian goat herder, who noticed the invigorating effects on his flock when his flock nibbled on the bright red berries of some bushes. He chewed on the same fruit, and his delight prompted him to bring the berries to a monk in a nearby monastery. The monk refused to use them, so they set them on fire, releasing an exciting aroma that astonished the other monks. The roasted coffee beans were quickly crushed in the embers and placed in hot water, resulting in the world's first cup of coffee.
Coffee reached southern Arabia, and its cultivation began in Yemen. By the 16th century, it had become known in Persia, Egypt, Syria, and Turkey. It quickly spread to Europe, but clergymen condemned the drink when it reached Venice in 1615, until Pope Clement approved it after tasting it. Coffee then began to spread, with the establishment of coffee houses in England, Austria, France, and Germany. It became a staple breakfast beverage. Competition for coffee cultivation began due to its popularity, and the Dutch were able to obtain coffee seedlings in the latter half of the 17th century, establishing a large and growing trade.
Ethiopian coffee is considered the original source of coffee-making culture, having been discovered in the region in the 9th century. The population relies on coffee cultivation for its livelihood, with approximately 12 million people involved in its cultivation.
Coffee is also an essential part of Ethiopian culture, appearing in many expressions about life, people, and food. The most common Ethiopian coffee is known as "Buna Dabo Naw," which means "coffee is our bread." This signifies that coffee is the primary source of livelihood for Ethiopians and plays a significant role in their diet.
Five countries are at the top of the list of coffee producers. Although the history of coffee itself does not mention which of these countries was the origin of the coffee tree, they now account for the largest production of coffee in the world. At the top of these countries is Brazil, which tops the list with a production of approximately 3.165 million tons, followed by Vietnam in second place with a production of 1.770 million tons, then Colombia, whose production is estimated at approximately 840 thousand tons, then Indonesia, which produces approximately 654.12 thousand tons, and finally Honduras, whose production is estimated at approximately 462 thousand tons annually.
The coffee house always provides delicious types of coffee beans from various countries around the world.