Coffee is more than a beverage; it’s a global phenomenon with a rich and storied past. From the legendary tale of Kaldi and his frolicking goats to its sacred role in Arabian culture, coffee has captivated humanity for centuries. This aromatic elixir has journeyed across continents, survived perilous voyages, and fueled empires, shaping cultures and societies along the way. Join us as we explore the history of coffee—a tale as robust as the drink itself.
The Legend – African Origins (Circa 800 A.D.)
Goats will eat anything…Just ask Kaldi the legendary Ethiopian goat herder. Kaldi, as the story goes, noticed his herd dancing from one coffee shrub to another, grazing on the cherry-red berries containing the beans. He copped a few for himself and was soon frolicking with his flock.
After witnessing Kaldi and his enlightened frolicking goats, a monk plucked berries for his brothers. That night they were uncannily alert to divine inspiration. Coffee later crossed the Red Sea to Arabia, where things really got cooking…
Escape From Arabia (1000 to 1600)
Coffee, as we know it today, started in Arabia where beans were first roasted and brewed around 1000 A.D. By the 13th century Muslims were drinking coffee religiously. The “bean broth” drove dervishes to frenzy, kept worshippers awake, and splashed over into secular life. And wherever Islam went, coffee went too: North Africa, the eastern Mediterranean, and India.
To preserve their precious coffee monopoly, Arabian coffee traders intentionally made export beans infertile by parching or boiling. In fact, legend has it that no coffee seed sprouted outside Africa or Arabia until the 1600s. Baba Budan, an Arabian pilgrim turned smuggler, left Mecca with fertile seeds strapped to his belly. Baba’s beans bore fruit and initiated an agricultural expansion that would soon reach European colonies…
Europe Catches the Buzz (1615 to 1700)
A merchant from Venice, Italy first introduced the Turkish black drink (coffee) to Europe in 1615. Once in Europe, this new beverage fell under harsh criticism from the Catholic Church. Many felt the pope should ban coffee, calling it the drink of the devil.
To their surprise, the Pope, already a coffee drinker, blessed coffee declaring it a truly Christian beverage. Coffee traders were not satisfied by merely importing coffee, however, and demanded a means of coffee production. The race was on.
The Dutch cleared the first hurdle in 1616, spiriting a coffee plant into Europe for the first time. Then in 1696 they founded the first European-owned coffee estate, on colonial Java, now part of Indonesia.
Business boomed and the Dutch sprinted ahead to adjacent islands. Confident beyond caution, Amsterdam began bestowing coffee trees on aristocrats around Europe…
Enter: France (1714 to 1720)
French King Louis XIV received his Dutch gift around 1714 – a coffee tree for Paris’s Jardin des Plantes (Royal Botanical Garden). Several years later, a young naval officer named Gabriel Mathieu de Clieu was in Paris on leave from Martinique, a French colony in the Caribbean. Imagining Martinique as a potential “French Java”, he requested clippings from his king’s tree. Permission denied.
Resolute, de Clieu led a moonlight raid of the Jardin des Plantes – over the wall, into the hothouse, out with a sprout.
With his mission accomplished, de Clieu sailed for Martinique. He might have thought the hard part was over. He would have been wrong…
Dangerously Crossing the Atlantic (1720 to 1770)
On the return passage to Martinique, de Clieu wrote that a “basely jealous” shipmate, “being unable to get this coffee plant away from me, tore off a branch.”
Then came the pirates who nearly captured the ship; then came a storm that nearly sank it. Finally, skies grew clear…too clear. Water grew scarce and was rationed. De Clieu gave half of his water ration to his stricken seedling.
Under armed guard, the sprout grew strong in Martinique, yielding an extended family of approximately 19 million trees in 50 years or so. Its progeny would supply Latin America, where a dangerous liaison would help bring coffee to the masses…
Coffee Blooms in Brazil (1727 to 1800)
1727: Brazil’s government wants a cut of the emerging coffee market; but first, they need an agent to smuggle seeds from a coffee country. Enter Lt. Col. Francisco de Melo Palheta, the James Bond of Coffee Beans.
Colonel Palheta is dispatched to French Guiana, ostensibly to mediate a border dispute. Eschewing the fortresslike coffee farms, slick Palheta chooses a path of less resistance – the governor’s wife. The plan pays off; at a state farewell dinner she presents him a sly token of affection: a bouquet spiked with coffee seedlings.
From these scant shoots sprout the world’s greatest coffee empire. By 1800 Brazil’s monster harvests would turn coffee from an elite indulgence to an everyday elixir, a drink for the people. The rest, as they say, is history. [See also “Coffee Growing Regions“]
Frequently Asked Questions About the History of Coffee
Coffee is believed to have originated in Ethiopia. Legend has it that a goat herder named Kaldi discovered the stimulating effects of coffee beans after observing his goats becoming energetic after eating them. From Ethiopia, coffee made its way to Yemen, where it was first cultivated and consumed as a beverage in the Sufi monasteries.
Coffee spread from Yemen to the Middle East and North Africa, becoming a popular drink in Islamic culture. In the 16th century, it reached Europe through Venetian traders. European coffee houses, known as “penny universities,” became hubs for intellectual exchange. Coffee cultivation later expanded to the Americas and Asia during the colonial period, establishing coffee as a global commodity.
Coffee has played a significant role in shaping societies. In the Middle East, it became an integral part of hospitality traditions. In Europe, coffee houses became centers for intellectual and political discussions, influencing movements like the Enlightenment. In the Americas, coffee production fueled economic growth, particularly in Brazil, which remains one of the largest coffee producers today.
Initially grown in Yemen, coffee cultivation spread to tropical regions worldwide. Over time, techniques for growing, harvesting, and processing coffee beans have advanced, leading to the specialty coffee industry. Consumption has also evolved from traditional methods like Turkish coffee to modern espresso machines, catering to diverse tastes and preferences.
Conclusion: The Timeless Journey of Coffee
The history of coffee is a tale of intrigue, passion, and global transformation. From its mythical beginnings with Kaldi’s frolicking goats to its revered status in the courts of kings and the coffee houses of intellectuals, coffee has transcended boundaries and cultures. Its journey from Ethiopia to Arabia, Europe, and beyond mirrors humanity’s own desire to connect, innovate, and savor life’s moments.
Today, coffee is not just a beverage but a symbol of unity and inspiration. It has fueled revolutions, sparked conversations, and shaped economies. Whether you’re savoring a rich espresso or brewing a comforting cup at home, remember the incredible odyssey that brought coffee to your cup.
As the love for coffee continues to grow, its fascinating history serves as a reminder of the enduring power of a humble bean to change the world. So, raise your mug to the rich legacy of coffee—a drink as timeless as the stories it holds.
