What is the History of Coffee?

We all love coffee but where did it originally come from?

The next time you hold a delicious latte and contemplate life, or sip an invigorating cup of coffee with a tantalizing array of flavors, you are sharing a pleasure enjoyed for over 1,000 years. Rich in tradition, and spanning the globe, the history of coffee is fascinating. So look deep into your brew and think about the connection of coffee across the years.

The Origin of Coffee

As early as the year 850 AD, legend says that coffee was discovered by an Arabian shepherd named Kaldi when he found his goats prancing around a shrub bearing bright red fruit resembling small cherries. He tasted the fruit and felt stimulated.

Kaldi then told this to the monks, who also used the fruit to stay awake during extended hours of prayer. The "‘mysterious red fruit" spread to monasteries all over the world, starting the relationship between the church and coffee that has lasted for centuries.

By year 1100, coffee was being cultivated as a crop in the Arabian Peninsula. Coffee was used to make qahwa or an Arabian beverage from the red fruits grown on the coffee plants.

In 1475, only a few years before Columus left to discover America, coffee was first sold in the shops in Constantinople. After that, coffee shops were found in Italy, France and into the new world as European shipping vessels spanned the globe.

As coffee production started around the world in different tropical regions, the growing conditions produced new and varying flavors. Varioous cultures invented new ways of enjoying coffee.

Our traditions of gourmet coffee would be recognized in the coffee shops popularized in France and Italy. By the end of the 19th century, coffee makers or espresso machines were developed for brewing coffee.

Growing Coffee Around the World

From coffee's start in the Arabian Peninsula, coffee has become one of the largest commercial crop grown around the world.  The best coffees are grown in tropical and subtropical areas. The traditional coffee production areas in are in South America (with Brazil and Columbia as the two largest coffee producers in the world), Africa (primarily East Africa) and Indonesia. Other areas grow coffees that have become prized in Jamaica, Hawaii, Australia, India, and Puerto Rico, winning the hearts of coffee aficionados throughout the globe.

Today’s Gourmet Coffee Picks

In general, the coffee beans from from Central and South America are known for their mild yet potent flavor. East African and Arabian coffee beans are known for their intense flavor and bright acidity.  Pacific coffees bean produce smooth, rich and low acid flavors.

Today, when we think about coffee, our favorite coffee shop is usually what comes to mind.  Not only did the coffee you enjoy originate in a land far away, it all started in a time long ago. You are the recipient of a great tradition that spans the years and around our world.

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