The origin of coffee still has no definitive conclusion to this day. The most widely circulated account points to the highlands of Kaffa Province in southwestern Ethiopia—a shepherd noticed that his flock became unusually active after eating a certain plant. Others believe that it was only after a wildfire burned down a coffee forest that the roasted aroma drew people's attention. From最初 chewing the fruit for stimulation and mixing ground coffee into flour to make "warrior bread," to around 1000 AD when people began boiling it in water as a beverage, coffee traveled a long road. In the 13th century, it spread with Ethiopian armies into Yemen, entered the Arab world, then passed through Turkey into Europe, and finally was cultivated on a large scale in South America. After prices fell, it became a daily drink for Europeans. This article sorts out the key milestones in coffee's journey from its place of origin to global dissemination, helping coffee lovers understand the historical context behind this cup.
The History of Coffee
Origins
Regarding the origin of coffee, no conclusive historical records can be found today. A widely circulated theory holds that the coffee tree first grew in the highlands of Kaffa Province in southwestern Ethiopia. Legend has it that a shepherd observed that his flock appeared especially excited and restless after eating a certain plant, and coffee was thus discovered. Another theory is that a natural wildfire burned down a coffee forest, and the aroma released by the scorched fruit attracted nearby residents. At first, people merely chewed coffee fruit to lift their spirits, and later roasted and crushed it, mixing it into flour to make bread for soldiers to eat and boost morale.
It was only around 1000 AD that people learned to boil coffee in water as a beverage. In the 13th century, Ethiopian armies invaded Yemen and brought coffee into the Arab region. Because Islamic law forbade alcohol, some religious figures felt that this beverage stimulated the nerves and went against doctrine, and at one point ordered it banned and coffee houses shut down. But the Egyptian Sultan determined that coffee did not violate doctrine and ordered the ban lifted, after which coffee drinks quickly became widespread in the Arab region. The word "coffee" comes from the Arabic "Qahwa," originally meaning "plant beverage." After entering Turkish, it evolved into "Kahve," and became the etymological source of the word in European languages. Arabs also continuously improved coffee cultivation and preparation methods through long practice.
Introduction to Europe
In 1570, Turkish troops besieged Vienna. During their retreat, someone found a bag of black seeds in the military camp, and no one recognized them. A Pole who had once lived in Turkey took the bag of coffee and opened the city's first coffee house in Vienna. At the end of the 16th century, coffee entered Europe on a large scale through Italy under the name "Islamic wine."
In the 17th century, drinking coffee gradually became fashionable in European high society, but coffee cultivation and production were long controlled by Arabs, and its price in Europe was high. It was not until 1690 that a Dutch captain sailed to Yemen, obtained several coffee seedlings, and successfully trial-planted them in the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia). In 1716, Venice's first coffee house opened. In 1727, the wife of a diplomat in Dutch Guiana (now Suriname) gave several coffee seeds to a Spaniard stationed in Brazil, who trial-planted them in Brazil with excellent results. Brazil's climate was very suitable for coffee cultivation, and coffee thereafter spread rapidly throughout South America. As production increased greatly and prices fell, coffee gradually became an important beverage for Europeans. By 1763, Venice already had 218 coffee houses.
The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.
