HISTORY OF COFFEE

Coffee is probably the most popular drink in the world after water. However, three-quarters of people that enjoy this drink know nothing about its history and how it got to their cups. Most historians share a standard view of the spread of coffee around the globe, but the ideology is split along the myths that characterized its earliest history or origin. We are going to show you these two views about the origin of coffee and how it got to your cup! Let’s get started!

EARLIEST HISTORY—MYTHS

There are two myths about the origin of coffee—one in Africa and another one in Asia. Ethiopia and Yemen! Enjoy!

KALDI—THE ABYSSINIAN ETHIOPIAN GOATHERD

Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee because of its legendary story and Ethiopia’s massive production and exportation of coffee. Many experts believe that Ethiopia is the only place where coffee is grown natively, and Kaldi’s story is what they used to support these claims.
The myth holds that Kaldi was a goatherd who observed the sudden vigor of his goats after eating some red cherries. He went on to try these cherries himself and discovered that he also had the same reaction almost immediately. He quickly took a handful of these cherries to the monastery and shared his story with the monks he met there.

The monks opined that what he and his goat had experienced is nothing but an evil spiritual influence, and hurled the cherries into the fire. The beans began to roast in fire and give off an exciting aroma that caught the monks. The monks immediately removed the seeds from the fire and crushed out their embers. They took the beans and placed them in hot water for preservation. The monks later drank the brew and noticed that it helped them to stay awake during their night devotions.
This story is the Ethiopian myth of the origin of coffee.

OMAR—THE SHEIK AND DOCTOR-PRIEST FROM YEMEN

Yemen is renowned for Coffee cultivation. The famous coffee adjective “Mocha” originated from Yemen. There is a myth that opines that coffee originated from Yemen. The legend holds that Omar was a doctor-priest from Mocha, Yemen sent on exile to a desert cave close to the mountain of Ousab. He was accused of attempting to keep the princess (to him) after treating her ailment. The myth also holds that Omar was a Sheik and follower of Sheik Aboul Hasan Schadheli.
Omar was starving on his journey in exile. There was nothing to eat, and as his starvation grew, he saw some red cherries.

Another version of the story says that he cried to his master Sheik Abou’l Hasan Schadheli for help, and then some birds brought the cherries to him. He tasted the cherries and found out that they were too bitter. In an attempt to make the cherries sweet, he hurled them into the fire, which made them hard and unsuitable for eating. He decided to soften them through boiling. He noticed that a heavenly aroma wafted from the dark-brown brew, and he drank the juice. He quickly saw that the drink was reinvigorating and revitalizing, and began to share his experience with others.
The story of Omar’s discovery suddenly reached Mocha, and his punishment (of exile) lifted. Asked to return home, and with his invention, Omar made more coffee drinks, and many people found it refreshing. In addition to the stimulating effect of Omar’s juice, he used it to cure many diseases in Mocha. Omar was praised for his discovery, and the king of Mocha built a monastery in Omar’s honor.

THE TWIST—ETHIOPIA OR YEMEN?

It is difficult to say which of these myths represents the actual history of coffee. However, two Yemen myths support the Ethiopian claim.
The first myth (sometimes called the first Yemen myth) holds that a Yemen Sufi was traveling through Ethiopia and found some very energetic birds eating some red cherries. He decided to try the cherries and found that he became very active. He got some of these cherries and took them to Yemen. The Yemen Sufi was called Ghotul Akbar Noorudin.
The second myth was about a man named Gemaleddin. The legend holds that Gemaleddin was in Aden’s port, where he noticed some Chinese visitors drinking tea. He observed how they made their tea and decided to try different leaves in Yemen. However, these leaves were not found in Yemen. He traveled to Ethiopia and continued to hunt for tea leaves before he found the coffee tree. He took the leaves and the fruits. He brewed the leaves like the Chinese but couldn’t get his desires. He went on to roast the coffee fruits and discovered that they changed color and smelt great. He used the baked beans like the leaves in hot water, and the coffee drink was born.
I think it sounds like Ethiopia! But!

But Kaldi’s story first appeared in a paper in the early 1670s. However, Ethiopian historians hold that it occurred around 850 BC. However, Yemen accounts point to a previous date. These conflicts further support the more general beliefs that these myths are fictions and mere speculation. The earliest credible history of coffee dates back to the 15th century in Yemen. On record, those Yemen Sufi monks used it to stay awake during their night devotions. Although these accounts support the fact that coffee was imported into Yemen from Ethiopia, they don’t give much credence to the myths of its earliest history. The famous coffee adjective “Mocha” was born in Yemen and believed that coffee was first (intentionally) cultivated in Yemen. This claim hinged on the favorable climatic conditions in Yemen that support the cultivation of coffee.

THE JOURNEY TO YOUR CUP

Coffee first traveled from Yemen to Constantinople (present Istanbul, Turkey) during the reign of Sultan Suleiman (the then Ottoman Governor of Yemen) in the mid-1500s. Europe had her first taste of coffee in 1615 in Venice, Italy, when Venetian merchants trading in Istanbul showed up with the beans. Coffee became very popular in Italy, and 1945; and by 1965 they built their first coffeehouse. Coffee continued to spread to other countries in Europe due to international trade and travel.
Marseilles merchants began to import Coffee into France, and in 1671, there was a coffeehouse in Marseilles. The first coffeehouses catered to merchants and travelers. However, coffeehouses became popular amongst the people after a few years. In 1651, England had her first coffeehouse in Oxford, and in 1652, a coffeehouse called Pasqual Rosee was opened in London by an Armenian. Coffee got to France in 1669, and coffeehouses became popular in the late 1680s. In the late 1680s and early 1690s, coffee has spread to Holland, Germany, and the United States of America.
The journey continues, and today coffee is in every part of the world, including your neighborhood. You can buy it over the internet, and see coffee take her journey to your cup.

FINAL VERDICT

The early history of coffee is controversial and speculative. However, the events surrounding the consumption and trade of coffee from the mid-1500s are well documented. Coffee has now become the most popular and consumed beverage in the world today. There is no evidence supporting the absence of coffee in any part of the world. The history of coffee may still have untold stories.