With over 2 billion cups consumed everyday, coffee is one of the most popular beverages of the World, consumed in every country. But its origins were much more local, with the original plants could only be found in modern day Ethiopia, and from there spread to the World.
According to legend, it was discovered in Ethiopia around the 9th century when a goat herder named Kaldi noticed his goats dancing after eating red berries from a certain plant. Intrigued, Kaldi tried the berries himself and felt an invigorating burst of energy. The discovery spread to nearby monasteries, where monks used coffee to stay awake during long prayers.
By the 15th century, coffee was being cultivated and traded in the Arabian Peninsula, where it became the centerpiece of qahveh khaneh, or coffeehouses. These establishments became hubs for social interaction, intellectual debate, and even political discussion, earning coffee its nickname: the “wine of Islam.” When coffee reached Europe in the 17th century, it fueled the Age of Enlightenment, with cafés becoming meeting places for thinkers, artists, and revolutionaries.
Today, coffee is one of the world’s most traded commodities, consumed in every corner of the globe. Its evolution from a mystical berry to a global obsession highlights how simple discoveries can transform cultures—and keep us awake in the process!
Craving more? Check out the source behind this Brain Snack!
