History of Coffee – Where Does it Come From?

The history of coffee is undoubtedly one of the most important things that all coffee connoisseurs and lovers must learn and understand by heart. After all, you would not entirely appreciate the beauty and excellence of your passion without knowing where it came from. So where exactly coffee come from and what are the significant evolutions that this perennially loved caffeinated drink has undergone?

In order to have a closer and more comprehensive look and understanding of the coffee industry and beverage, it helps to classify the historical accounts of coffee. First, it is vital to learn the origins and first uses of coffee in ancient world and culture. For instance, as early as the 13th century, coffee has already made a phenomenal entrance to the world of beverages.

First Origins Were In Africa & The Arabian Peninsula

Coffee was believed to have been first introduced in Ethiopia in the early 13th century and was disseminated to Yemen and Egypt in the 15th century. The very first place where coffee was introduced was the Sufi monasteries situated in Yemen. The first coffees are likewise prepared the same way contemporary coffee was introduced such as roasted and brewed. During the 16th century, coffee has become widespread and introduced to other countries and continents including Europe, the Americas, Persia, Turkey and northern Africa.

Popularity Caught On In Europe

Although coffee has become a staple in different homes in the Middle East and Ethiopian regions, it has also become a great mainstay in the European countries. Countries in Europe such as Germany, France, The Netherlands and Vienna, Austria have rich histories where coffee would definitely have a special place.

There are significant names and figures related to the proliferation of coffee in Europe. Nevertheless, there are also controversies related to coffee consumption such as women who are banned to drink coffee in England unlike the freedom of drinking coffee in Germany. Another interesting trivia in the coffee industry was attributed to the first ever coffeehouses in Austria which were opened upon the ruins and defeat of the Turks.

Coffee Later Spread To The Americas

Coffee has also become a colorful component of history especially in the Americas. For instance, coffee cultivation has been introduced in this country and its different states as early as 1720 in the Caribbean. Still in the 1700s, coffee plantations and cultivation has become full swing in the countries of Haiti and Brazil where rainforests are cleared for coffee farming.

In the early American history however, coffee cultivation was related to long scale African slave labor and the exploitation of indigenous people. Thus, it inflamed the Haitian Revolution which majorly affected the coffee industry and stripped Haiti from its title of being the second coffee supplier in the world. Nowadays, the US has bounced back to cultivating coffee without the oppression and slavery among its farmers and coffee growers. There is also the flourishing of coffee shops and varieties of caffeinated beverages.

Coffee history enriches the culture of not only one country but basically different cultures and histories worldwide. It is undoubtedly the topmost beverage enjoyed by millions of coffee enthusiasts then and now.

More Resources: Coffee History Wiki | History of Coffee In Ethiopia | Coffee History Information
Coffee History Timeline | History of Coffee In America
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