The Origin: History
The story of coffee has its beginnings in Ethiopia,
the birthplace of the Arabica coffee plant.
It is said that more than 1,000, years ago a lone goat
shepherd and his flock came across a strange and mysterious
plant growing upon a secluded and forgotten hillside
in Ethiopia’s southwestern highlands. The shepherd
noticed that his sheep were behaving in an odd manner
after they had eaten the berries and leaves of the
strange bush; Not only were they unusually alert, but
they also appeared to be extremely hyperactive, running
full of excitement and energy.
The shepherd decided to try some of the berries and
leaves, and to his pleasant surprise, he too began
to feel energized and very alert.
After a few hours had passed, along came a wandering monk who, after being informed of the plants amazing qualities, proceeded to take some of the bush’s fruit and branches, and then set upon his journey. Back at the monastery the monks decided to try this new and exciting substance. Soon the endless hours of praying were endured with the greatest of ease.
Its widespread use took a grip in the Ethiopian lands
and later migrated on to the Arabian outlands about
600 years ago. By the 15th century, coffee had
reached Persia, Egypt, Turkey, and northern Africa.
Here it was to be held for many years as a sacred
substance, becoming the substitute beverage in spiritual
practice in place of wine where wine was forbidden.
It was eventually to be unlawfully exported (the Arabs
were not allowed to export the plant or unroasted
beans) by a merchant, thus beginning its journey around
the world. From the Muslim world, coffee first spread
to Europe and became popular there during the 17th
century. In 1787 the story of coffee’s journey
around the world came full circle when the British
laid foundations of Kenya’s coffee industry
by introducing plants to British East Africa right
next to neighboring Ethiopia, where coffee had first
been discovered. Within a few years, coffee was to
emerge as one of the most valued commodities of all
time.
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The Art of Coffee
Coffee is the most popular beverage in the world next
to water. While the traditions, rituals, and preparation
methods of coffee vary from one country to another,
one thing remains constant: it is considered the beverage
of creative and intellectual activity. From the coffeehouses
of the 16th century to modern-day cafes, coffee has
had a profound affect on the lifestyles of people
from all walks of life.
It was in Mecca that the first coffeehouses were
established. With alcohol banned under Islam, coffee
became a sort of religious intoxicant. Used in religious
rites, it quickly became the beverage of choice in
the Arab world. Known as Kaveh Kanes, these coffeehouses
were originally religious meeting places, but
soon became social meeting locations for gossip,
singing, and storytelling. They were enlightened meeting
places for intellectuals, where news and gossip were
exchanged and traditional storytellers regularly entertained
clients. Soon after, they started the first coffeehouses
in the world, Arabs began creating grand libraries,
universities, new mathematical equations, and amazingly
complex architectural designs. Such is the power of
coffee.
Coffeehouses were opened in Constantinople in 1554,
and their luxurious interiors became a regular rendezvous
for those engaged in radical political thought and
dissent. When coffeehouses hit Europe in the 1600’s
they had the same affect they had in the Arab world,
A spectacular growth in intellectual clarity and output.
The first coffeehouse in England was opened in 1650,
and from the enlightened coffeehouses of London grew
the first newspaper divisions (Business, Style, Overseas
News, etc) and the first organized scientific associations.
The most famous name in the world of insurance, Lloyds
of London, also began life as a coffeehouse on Tower
Street in 1688. The first coffeehouse opened in Venice
in 1683. The famous Café Florian in the Piazza
San Marco, established in 1720, is the oldest surviving
coffeehouse in Europe.
With the rapid growth in popularity of the coffeehouses,
by the 17th century a European Café
society had emerged, and the European powers were competing
with each other to establish coffee plantations in
their respective colonies.
Coffee plays a large role in much history and literature
because of the large affects the coffee industry has
had on cultures where it is produced or consumed.
Coffee in culture or trade is a central theme and
prominently referenced in much poetry, fiction, and
regional history.
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