Caffeinated

If you are a coffee lover and cannot think of a world without coffee, you should thank the Ethiopian goats.

Legend has it that a goat herder named Kaldi lived in the highlands of Ethiopia, the home of the coffee plant. Kaldi noticed that his goats would become energized and not sleep the entire night after eating the red fruit. After trying the fruit, he himself experienced a similar effect. Mesmerised by what this fruit could do, he took the fruit to a local monk, who experienced similar effects during his long evening prayers.

The world quickly spread across South Africa and the Arabian Peninsula about this red cherry which could keep you energized for hours.

By the 15th century, Arabs (from Yemen) started planting coffee and making their very own drink by boiling the pulp in water called “qahwa”. Sometimes the pulp was also fermented or even roasted making it into a coffee wine. This is also the only substantial evidence of coffee drinking or even the knowledge of coffee. During the same time coffee became popular in Persia, Egypt, Syria and Turkey.

Coffee finally spread to Europe when Baba Budan, an Indian pilgrim left mecca with fertile coffee beans. Soon its popularity in France, England, Germany, Holland grew and with its popularity coffee houses became centres of social activity.

In the mid 1600 coffee was brought to New Amsterdam (now called New York). Even though it was popular, tea was still considered the most preferred drink, until after the colonists revolted a heavy tax imposed on tea, called the Boston Tea Party. This changed the American’s drinking preference to coffee.

In the 1960s, a certain awareness for coffee started to grow, this led to the opening of the first Starbucks in Seattle in 1971.

I would say we have come far in this journey of coffee. From the dancing goats of Ethiopia to literally a Starbucks in every corner. Now we can all go back to sipping on our lattes.

References:

Pbsorg. (2013, 8 April 2013). History of Coffee | The History Kitchen | PBS Food. [Weblog]. Retrieved 30 October 2018, from http://www.pbs.org/food/the-history-kitchen/history-coffee/

Ncausaorg. (2018). Ncausaorg. Retrieved 30 October, 2018, from http://www.ncausa.org/about-coffee/history-of-coffee

Studycom. (2018). Studycom. Retrieved 30 October, 2018, from https://study.com/academy/lesson/history-of-coffee-facts-timeline

Coffeeroasterscomau. (2016, 18 April 2016). History of Coffee Roasting | Coffee Roasters Australia. [Weblog]. Retrieved 30 October 2018, from https://www.coffeeroasters.com.au/blog/history-coffee-roasting/

Youtubecom. 2018. YouTube. [Online]. [30 October 2018]. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJ3SSw7I4rQ