Coffee has one of the most well-traveled histories of any beverage on earth. Here's how it got from a hillside in Africa to your morning mug.
The Legend of Kaldi
The story goes that an Ethiopian goat herder named Kaldi noticed his goats were unusually energetic after eating berries from a certain tree. He brought the berries to a local monastery, where monks made a drink from them and found it kept them alert through long evening prayers. Whether true or not, Ethiopia is widely recognized as coffee's birthplace.
Arabia Takes Over
By the 15th century, coffee was being cultivated and traded in Yemen. Coffeehouses — called qahveh khaneh — spread across the Middle East, becoming centers of conversation, music, and news.
Europe Discovers Coffee
Coffee arrived in Europe in the 17th century and quickly replaced beer and wine as the morning drink of choice (a genuine improvement for productivity). Coffeehouses in London became known as "penny universities" — for the price of a penny, you could buy a coffee and engage in hours of conversation.
Coffee Reaches the Americas
European colonists brought coffee to the Americas in the 18th century. Brazil eventually became the world's largest producer, a title it still holds today.
The Modern Era
The 20th century brought instant coffee, espresso machines, and eventually the specialty coffee movement — a focus on origin, processing, and craft roasting that defines what we do at Brew Buddy Roast.
Every cup you drink is part of a 600-year-old story. Not bad for a morning ritual.