How I Fell in Love with Coffee and a Short History of the Coffee Bean
Ah, coffee! The beloved beverage that perks up millions of people every day. But what is it about this dark, aromatic liquid that makes it so appealing?
My Short History
When I was about 11, I unconventionally discovered coffee. My parents were fans of Amigo instant coffee, and there was always a can in the kitchen. One day, my brother and I decided to try it out. We dipped our fingers into the jar and tasted the magic powder, and to our surprise, it tasted better than we thought.
We then decided to take it further and make our own first coffee (ok, instant coffee, but we did not know any better). We pulled out two large mugs, poured plenty of sugar, and added the coffee. We mixed those two together with a bit of water to make the foam we always wanted to try and then filled the cups with water bringing the foam up. We literally licked the foam and then siped the sugary black liquid. It felt good and tasted amazing.
Of course, it goes without saying that my brother and I had a few too many of those sugary instant coffee concoctions before our parents realized something was off. However, that small moment of discovery was just the beginning of my journey into the world of coffee.
I became a regular coffee drinker in college, and my taste for this beautiful potion evolved. I experimented with different brewing methods and discovered the joy of a well-made cappuccino or pour-over. Today I mostly drink my coffee black, but I would never say no to a well-crafted flat white.
Its Short History
Few people know the fascinating history behind this popular drink and how it became the hit that it is today.
The story of coffee begins in Ethiopia, where it is believed that coffee was first discovered in the ninth century. According to legend, a goat herder named Kaldi noticed that his goats became particularly energetic after eating the berries from a certain type of plant. Curious, he tried the berries himself and soon discovered the stimulating effects of coffee.
From Ethiopia, coffee gradually spread to the neighboring Arabian Peninsula, where it was first cultivated and traded, and by the 15th century, coffee had become an essential part of Arab culture.
The Ottoman Empire, which controlled much of the Arab world during the 16th century, played a significant role in the spread of coffee to Europe. Coffee was introduced to Constantinople (now Istanbul) in the early 16th century and soon became a favorite beverage among the Ottoman elite.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, coffeehouses emerged in major European cities such as London, Paris, and Vienna. They were known for providing a stimulating and intellectual environment where people could engage in conversation, debate, and exchange ideas. As a result, many great ideas and works of art were born within the walls of these coffeehouses. For example, famous authors such as Voltaire and Balzac were known to frequent Parisian coffeehouses. In contrast, London’s coffeehouses were frequented by political figures and journalists who would discuss current events and debate political issues.
The culture of coffeehouses also contributed to the development of modern democracy, as they provided a forum for free speech and open discussion.
In many ways, the coffeehouse became a symbol of enlightenment and progress, providing a space for intellectual discourse and fostering the development of new ideas and works of art.
During the 18th century, coffee made its way to the Americas through European colonizers who brought coffee plants with them. Brazil was the first country in the Americas to cultivate coffee on a large scale, starting in the late 1700s. The country’s warm climate and fertile soil provided perfect growing conditions for the crop, and by the mid-1800s, Brazil was responsible for producing around 40% of the world’s coffee.
Other countries in the Americas soon followed suit and began cultivating coffee, including Colombia, now one of the largest coffee producers in the world. In the early days of coffee cultivation in the Americas, many of the coffee plantations were worked by slaves who were brought over from Africa. This dark period in coffee’s history is now recognized by many in the industry, and efforts are being made to address the social and economic issues affecting coffee-growing regions.
Coffee quickly became an integral part of the culture in many countries in the Americas, where it was consumed throughout the day and used as a social lubricant. In the United States, coffee became a popular beverage during the Civil War, when soldiers were given coffee to keep them alert and awake during long duty hours.
During the 19th century, coffee continued to gain popularity around the world. By the mid-1800s, coffee had become the most important cash crop in countries like Brazil and Colombia, and it was being exported to markets in Europe and North America. The rise of the coffee industry led to the development of new technologies and infrastructure, including railroads and steamships, to make transporting from remote regions to markets worldwide easier.
In the late 19th century, coffee consumption began to spread beyond the traditional coffee-drinking countries of Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas. Coffee was introduced to Japan in the 1870s, quickly becoming popular. Today, Japan is one of the largest importers of coffee in the world, and Japanese coffee culture has evolved to include a variety of unique brewing methods and coffee drinks.
In the 20th century, coffee grew in popularity and became an increasingly globalized industry. Advances in transportation and communication made it easier for coffee producers to connect with buyers worldwide, and new coffee-growing regions began to emerge in countries like Ethiopia, Rwanda, Vietnam, and Indonesia. The rise of coffee chains like Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts in the latter half of the 20th century also helped to popularize coffee in countries where it had not traditionally been a popular beverage but more about this is a future story, so stay tuned.
Today, coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world, with an estimated 2.5 billion cups of coffee being consumed daily. The coffee industry is a significant source of employment and economic activity in many countries, and coffee continues to play an important role in cultures and societies around the world. Despite the industry’s challenges, including climate change, sustainability, and fair trade, coffee remains a beloved beverage people enjoy daily and the second most traded commodity in the world after oil.
We all have our unique history when it comes to coffee, and when you think that there are roughly 2.5 billion people who drink coffee every day, that means there are 2.5 billion different coffee stories out there waiting to be told. Tell me yours?
Affiliate links with my favorite coffee are below. Give them a try.
illy Arabica Selections Ethiopia
Coffee Bean Direct Ethiopian Yirgacheffe
And the infamous Amigo, which seems hard to find these days.
