Coffee has shaped history in ways few other substances have. Wars have been fought over it, governments have banned it, and it has fueled revolutions and the intellectual movements that created the modern world.
Origins in Ethiopia
Coffee's story begins in the forests of southwestern Ethiopia, likely between the 9th and 12th centuries. The Oromo people are believed to have been the first to recognize the stimulating properties of coffee berries.
Yemen and the First Coffee Houses
By the 15th century, coffee was being cultivated in Yemen. The Sufi mystics of Yemen drank coffee to maintain nighttime devotions. By the 16th century, coffeehouses (qahveh khaneh) had spread across the Arab world — Cairo, Mecca, Constantinople.
These coffeehouses were revolutionary social spaces where men gathered to discuss politics, philosophy, and business. They were called "Schools of the Wise" and were so politically charged that several rulers attempted to ban them.
Coffee Comes to Europe
By the 17th century, coffee had reached Europe. The first coffeehouse in England opened in Oxford in 1650. By 1700, London had over 300 coffeehouses.
Lloyd's of London — the famous insurance market — started as a coffeehouse. Stock exchanges and newspapers grew from these gathering places. Coffee fueled the Enlightenment.
The Colonial Coffee Trade
European powers spread coffee cultivation across their colonies — Dutch in Java (giving us the word "java"), French in the Caribbean, Portuguese in Brazil.
The Rise of Brazil
Brazil became the world's largest coffee producer in the 19th century and remains so today, producing approximately 40% of the world's coffee.
Modern Coffee Culture
The espresso machine was invented in Italy in 1884. Starbucks opened in 1971. The specialty coffee movement emerged in the 1990s. Today, coffee is consumed by over 2.25 billion cups every day.
