The Origin and History of Coffee

Have you ever enjoyed a cup of coffee? This beloved beverage is renowned for boosting energy and enhancing our daily activities. Many people even feel incomplete without a cup of coffee at hand. But do you know where coffee originally comes from?

According to legends recorded in various sources, including Fomac.co, coffee was first discovered in Abyssinia, Ethiopia, during the 9th century. The story begins with a goat herder in the Kaffa Province who noticed his goats remained unusually active throughout the night. Curious about this phenomenon, he visited a nearby monastery for an explanation. The monks discovered that the goats had been eating berries from a unique plant, which later became known as the coffee plant.

Driven by curiosity, the monks began brewing a drink from these coffee berries. They experienced a remarkable boost in energy after drinking it. Today, Ethiopia’s highlands are considered the birthplace of coffee, and Ethiopia began exporting coffee beans to Arabia. In Yemen, coffee cultivation started in the mid-15th century. By the 16th century, with the expansion of the Ottoman Empire, coffee began to spread to regions such as Asia Minor, Syria, Egypt, and Southern Europe.

Coffee wasn’t just enjoyed at home; it also became popular in coffeehouses. These coffeehouses became important hubs for exchanging information and were often referred to as “schools of the wise.” By the mid-17th century, London boasted over 300 coffeehouses, attracting traders, brokers, and artists. Many businesses, including Lloyd’s of London, originated from these coffeehouses.

With thousands of pilgrims visiting Mecca each year, knowledge of coffee began to spread. In the Arab world, coffee was known as "qahwah," while the Turks called it "kahweh." Because coffee was considered a valuable commodity, Arabs prohibited the export of coffee and its beans, maintaining control over the coffee trade until the 17th century. Eventually, Dutch traders successfully smuggled coffee beans into Europe.

Europeans began growing coffee in greenhouses and vineyards before European colonists planted it in Java, Colombia, and Kenya. By the 19th century, coffee had become a "beverage of the people" in many countries. Today, this once-mysterious plant has evolved into a popular drink enjoyed worldwide.