It's interesting how little the average person knows about coffee history, considering how much of the stuff we actually drink. But the story of coffee is actually quite intriguing, and more so than you might imagine.
If you can spare five minutes to read this short blog post, we can reveal a few things that you might even find quite fascinating.
For example, how was coffee introduced to the Americas, and when did Americans start drinking coffee? Where are coffee beans from, and who started growing coffee beans first?
Here at Angelino's, we happen to know a thing or two about coffee history. If you are interested, we would love to share some of that knowledge by running through its global origins.
So, go grab a mug of your favorite java and relax as we take you on a quick journey through the story of America's favorite beverage.
But first, before we get to coffee in America, history starts way back in the ninth century with a group of peckish goats.
Coffee History - Origins
The early origins of coffee are engulfed in legend, beginning in the ancient coffee forests of Ethiopia sometime in the ninth century. According to folklore, a goat herder named Kaldi discovered the energizing effects of coffee beans.
The discovery was made by chance after Kaldi noticed his goats became more energized shortly after eating berries from a specific tree.
We will never know how Kaldi’s goats displayed signs of this sudden energy increase. Maybe they scurried off at an alarming speed to organize a headbutting contest or similar. Sadly, we can only speculate.
Either way, Kaldi shared his findings with a local monastery, where the abbot took a gamble and brewed a drink from the berries. The beverage kept the monks alert during long hours of prayer, and word of its stimulating properties spread rapidly.
Obviously, there is no firm proof of any of this happening, although you have to admit it seems quite plausible (apart from the headbutting competition bit, of course.)
From Ethiopia, coffee traveled to the Arabian Peninsula. Here, it became a popular beverage, presumably fueled by stories of jittery abbots and unusually quick goats. In these regions, coffee was embraced and enjoyed for its flavor and invigorating effects.
The spread of coffee from Ethiopia to the Arab world signaled the beginning of its global expansion, during which time coffee would eventually become the powerhouse it is today - and it all started with some curious goats who fancied a quick nibble on an interesting-looking berry.
Onwards Through the Arabian Peninsula
Coffee cultivation and trade flourished almost immediately in the Arabian Peninsula. By the 15th century, coffee was grown in Yemen, and by the 16th century, it had spread to Persia, Egypt, Syria, and Turkey.
Coffee houses (known as ‘Qahveh Khaneh’) emerged as lively social hubs in cities across the Near East. These quirky establishments became centers of social and cultural life.
Mercifully free of social media, computers, or televisions, entertainment in those days came in the form of conversion. Patrons gathered to chat, listen to music, gossip, watch performances, and catch up on current events, all while drinking coffee.
Essentially, if you wanted to find out whose camel had recently deceased or how many teapots Omar had traded that morning, coffee houses would contain all of the answers.
With thousands of pilgrims visiting Mecca annually - many of whom would frequent these establishments - the knowledge and love of coffee spread even further. Soon, these dedicated global travelers would spread the word about coffee when returning to their homelands.
Coffee Reaches Europe
Interestingly, coffee's arrival in Europe was greeted with curiosity and skepticism. European travelers returning from the Near East brought tales of a unique, dark beverage in a variety of flavor profiles. By the 17th century, coffee had spread across Europe, although it was constantly met with suspicion.
In Venice, local clergies, being the utter killjoys that they were in those days, took an instant dislike to coffee, apparently calling it “the bitter invention of Satan.” How they arrived at such a stark opinion we shall never know, but we can confidently assume their assessment would have been much brighter had Aneglino’s existed back then.
Springing out of nowhere, Pope Clement VIII came to the rescue. After tasting coffee, he gave it his blessing, leading to its instant acceptance. Coffee houses soon became the social hubs of cities like London, Paris, and Vienna, known as ‘penny universities.’
In England, these establishments allowed people to buy coffee and engage in gossip, much like the earlier iterations in the Far East.
Yee-Haw! Coffee Comes to America
And with that, we arrive at the part you have all been waiting for: when did Americans start drinking coffee? You might be surprised to know that coffee's journey to America began in the mid-1600s when it arrived in New Amsterdam (now New York).
Tea was initially the preferred drink until the Boston Tea Party in 1773. This famous protest against British tea taxes shifted American preferences toward coffee, birthing coffee in American history.
Historical figures like Thomas Jefferson praised coffee, calling it the "favorite drink of the civilized world,” which would suggest he was a more fun, likable guy than the Venetian Clergies we mentioned earlier.
With the Far East, large chunks of Africa, America, and now Europe all swigging back coffee in enormous quantities, that just leaves the rest of the world to conquer, which takes us to the final chapter of this little coffee history lesson: When did everyone else start drinking Joe?
How Coffee Spread Globally
Unfortunately, there are no abbots, goats, grumpy clergy, or cheerful presidents involved in this part of coffee history. The reason coffee became popular elsewhere in the world is far more practical and capitalistic. Essentially, the spread of coffee globally was driven by intense competition to cultivate coffee outside of Arabia.
In the late 17th century, the Dutch successfully established coffee plantations in Java and other parts of Indonesia. From there, coffee spread to the Caribbean, South, and Central America, with notable success in places like Martinique and Brazil.
Rise of the Coffee Plantation
By the year 1700, coffee was everywhere. With thousands of plantations now growing good-quality, well-harvested beans, the competition was fierce.
As a result, standards were high. Coffee really had a kick in those days. Early 18th-century coffee was, by all accounts, pretty awesome.
From this point, it would be 170 years before Starbucks came along and turned coffee into a drink that tastes like a corporate meeting - and another 30 years before Angelino's came along and rescued us all with coffee that tastes like someone just gifted you a puppy.
Final Thoughts
So there you have it. Class dismissed. The only thing left to do is make another brew and enjoy a delightfully hearty Angelino’s coffee while musing over goats and abbots.
Maybe we should end things on a philosophical note and pose the question: Can you, dearest reader, imagine a world without coffee? How would that feel? Would it be any different?
In all honesty, probably not.
But we do know that most people are extremely fond of coffee, regardless of age, gender, faith, nationality, or race. Coffee unites us, and in an age where we seem so divided, that can only be a good thing. So, here’s to another 1000 years of good old trusty Joe.
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And on that cheery note, we invite you to take advantage of our wonderful subscription box. Thousands of happy, satisfied people have done so, and we would love for you to do the same.
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Trust us when we say you need this in your life. If you have never experienced Angelino’s before, you haven't really experienced coffee!
Sources
https://www.ncausa.org/About-Coffee/History-of-Coffee
https://ruste.gr/en/history-of-coffee/
https://www.thecollector.com/history-of-coffee-surprising-facts/
