When we brew our coffee beans, we often don't think about the history of coffee. We're interested in the taste and how it makes us feel, that's all! But did you know, coffee wasn't always the way we know it today?
Let's take a step back in time. No time machine required. I want to rewind back to the origins of coffee and take a look at milestones throughout history.
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Where Did it All Begin?
Coffee is a great thing. It's the second largest commodity in the world. And sometimes, great things happen by accident! The discovery of coffee is a story that often changes between cultures and generations. But there is one story that gets told over and over again. The best coffee origin story goes something like this ...
Back in the year 850 in Ethiopia, a goat herder named Kaldi discovered the coffee fruit. Kaldi noticed his goats acting in an unusual way. They were frolicking in the fields, with more energy than usual! The goats seemed to be in a great mood. Kaldi was confused until he noticed the animals eating strange red berries.
He tried the berries for himself and felt that same energy that his herd was showing. Excited, he took the berries to a local monk. The monk thought that Kaldi was crazy and immediately threw the berries into the fire. He claimed they came straight from the devil. Very soon, the monastery was filled with the smell of fresh coffee.
Young monks rebelled and took the berries from the fire. After letting them cool, they put them in some water and drank the concoction. They had new-found energy and were able to pray long into the night. Wherever the monks went, they took this "magical fruit" with them.
Coffee Timeline
The history may go back to Ethiopian coffee, but it wasn't long before it spread to the rest of the world. Good things don't stay a secret for long. Coffee may have a complicated past. Let's take a look at some of the major milestones throughout its history.
14th Century
Ethiopians believed that coffee plants had medicinal, healing properties. It quickly became an important commodity and spread through the Arabian Peninsula. It reached Yemen in the 14th century and trading began.
At first, it was called "qahwa", which translates into "that which prevents sleep".
16th Century
Persia, Egypt, Turkey, and Syria were the next countries to catch on to the coffee craze. Of course, each country had their own unique take on the drink. New varieties and traditions were born. For example, in Turkish coffee, drinkers added cinnamon, anise and other spices for a unique twist.
Public coffee houses opened, making coffee a more social drink. It became a way to pass time with friends and talk about local gossip. When drinking coffee, there would often be games and performers as entertainment. People also brewed it at home and invited guests over to enjoy coffee rituals.
17th Century
Coffee made its way to Europe. It was met with mixed responses. While some people welcomed this new drink, others called it the "bitter invention of Satan". In Venice in 1615, the local clergy condemned the drink. However, Pope Clement VIII enjoyed the Italian coffee so much, he permitted the drinking of it.
Coffee houses popped up across Europe. In England, "penny universities" were born. Here, people could pay a penny for a coffee and a chat. At the time, alcohol was the chosen breakfast beverage. Coffee replaced this and people found they enjoyed the extra energy throughout the day. I imagine they were much more productive than breakfast beer had made them!
Public drunkenness became less of a problem, as coffee shops became a more common meeting place. Tavern owners noticed the drop in profits and attacked the Arabic origins of coffee.
1773
The Boston Tea Party became a turning point in the coffee-drinking world. Before this, tea was the preferred drink of choice in America. However, colonists revolted against King George III who tried to impose a heavy tea tax. Coffee became the favored drink in the USA. Colonists threw tea over the sides of the ships!
18th Century
1817
Coffee cultivation made its way to Hawaii. The first successful orchard was established in 1825. At the time, farmers probably didn't know it would soon become the "world's best coffee". Hawaiian Kona coffee would surface very soon.
1871
Coffee in America became more technical. John Arbuckle invented a machine that could fill, weigh, seal and label coffee. He had the means to create and sell coffee in bulk for the first time. He became the world's largest importer of coffee. He was in charge of every merchant ship in the South American coffee trade.
19th Century
1900
Vacuum-packing technology gave us the freshness we expect today. Two brothers called the Hills Brothers came up with the method. They removed air from coffee packaging to keep the best coffee beans possible. The product could stay fresher for longer, and this method thrives today.
1901
In 1901, the espresso machine was introduced. It was created by an Italian named Luigi Bezzera. He used high pressured steam to force coffee through water at a high speed. The story goes that Luigi came up with the method to save time, as his employees were taking too long on their coffee breaks!
The espresso machine allowed everyone to brew coffee much more quickly than they ever could before. Of course, the technology developed over the years that followed. The 1901 espresso machine looked very different to the ones we see today!
1972
An entrepreneur from Ohio brought coffee to all of our kitchens. He invented a machine known as Mr. Coffee. This was the first automatic drip coffee maker for the home. During the late 1970's, 40,000 units per day were sold! People could achieve coffee shop quality coffee in their kitchens.
2006-present day
We know now that the ways we can drink coffee are endless. It's so much more than beans and water. Specialty coffees slowly began taking over the market. In 2006, they accounted for 40% of all coffee sold in the US.
We now drink 400 billion cups every single year. And it's all thanks to those curious little goats in Ethiopia!
The Bottom Line
You can surely delve even further into the history of coffee. It's interesting to see how different countries have adopted the drink. Many cultures retain their original coffee drinking traditions. Others have allowed their coffee culture to grow and develop with the times.
That only leaves one question. What will the future of coffee bring us?