The history of coffee: Origins in Africa and its global journey

Coffee, one of the most popular beverages worldwide, has a rich and fascinating history that spans centuries. Its journey from its African roots to becoming a global cultural staple is a testament to the influence of trade, exploration, and human innovation. The origin of coffee is deeply tied to the African continent, particularly Ethiopia, where it was first discovered. From Africa, coffee spread to the Arab world, Europe, and eventually the Americas, shaping global trade and culture.

Origins in Africa: The Ethiopian legend

The most widely accepted origin story of coffee traces back to Ethiopia, where it was said to have been discovered in the 9th century. According to legend, a young goat herder named Kaldi noticed that his goats became unusually energetic after eating the red cherries from a particular plant. Curious, Kaldi tried the cherries himself and found they had the same stimulating effect on him.

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Kaldi took the discovery to a local monastery, where the monks, intrigued by its potential, experimented with the cherries. They boiled the beans into a drink and found that it helped them stay awake during long hours of prayer and meditation. This discovery spread throughout the region, and soon, the energising properties of coffee became well-known in Ethiopia.

Whether or not Kaldi was an actual figure, this Ethiopian legend reflects the belief that coffee has been consumed in Africa for centuries, primarily in its wild form.

The spread of coffee to the Arab world

From Ethiopia, coffee made its way across the Red Sea to the Arabian Peninsula, particularly to the region of Yemen, during the 15th century. Yemenis were the first to cultivate coffee plants and brew the beans into a drink. The port city of Mocha in Yemen became a central hub for the coffee trade, and the term “mocha” still carries associations with coffee today.

In the Sufi monasteries of Yemen, coffee was used to aid concentration during religious rituals and night-long prayers. The drink spread from these religious contexts to the general population, becoming a central part of everyday life in the Arab world.

“The port city of Mocha in Yemen became a central hub for the coffee trade, and the term “mocha” still carries associations with coffee today.”

By the 16th century, coffee had reached Persia (modern-day Iran), Egypt, and the Ottoman Empire. In these regions, coffeehouses, known as “qahveh khaneh,” began to spring up, offering spaces for people to gather, socialise, discuss politics, and enjoy music. These early coffeehouses played a vital role in the social and cultural life of the Middle East.

The arrival of coffee in Europe

Coffee’s journey to Europe began in the early 17th century. European travellers who had visited the Ottoman Empire and the Middle East brought back stories of this unusual black beverage. By the mid-1600s, coffee had made its way to major European cities like Venice, Vienna, Paris, and London.

At first, coffee met with suspicion and resistance. Some members of the clergy in Europe labelled it as the “bitter invention of Satan” due to its stimulating effects and its association with Islamic culture. However, Pope Clement VIII is said to have tasted coffee and blessed it, declaring Christians should also enjoy it. This papal approval helped coffee gain widespread acceptance in Europe.

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Coffeehouses soon became famous in cities across the continent, much like in the Arab world. In England, these establishments were known as “penny universities” because, for the price of a penny, one could enjoy a cup of coffee and engage in stimulating conversation and debate. In France, intellectuals like Voltaire were coffeehouse regulars, using them as spaces for discussion and exchanging ideas.

The spread of coffee to the Americas

By the 17th century, European colonial powers saw the potential of coffee as a lucrative crop. The Dutch were the first to cultivate coffee outside of the Arabian Peninsula, establishing plantations in their colonies in Java (Indonesia) and later in the Caribbean and South America.

The French and Portuguese followed suit, establishing coffee plantations in their colonies in the Caribbean and Brazil, respectively. Brazil, in particular, became a dominant force in global coffee production in the 18th and 19th centuries, and it remains one of the largest coffee producers in the world today.

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