Most of us who love drinking coffee start our day with a stimulating cup of aromatic coffee to energize ourselves. Nothing can be more effective than a little caffeine to kick start one’s day. None of us however think much on the history of coffee and how it became so popular world wide. While having a lively debate or discussion with friends over cups of coffee did you ever wonder how many people before you engaged in the very same exercise or who first came up with this particular aromatic blend? This article aims to educate and inform you about some interesting facts related to coffee and its popularity.
Coffee is a drink made from roasted seeds, known as coffee beans of the plant. They are grown in more than 70 countries, mainly in Southeast Asia, Latin America and Africa. Coffee leaves a stimulating effect on people due to the caffeine content in it. Coffee, which is today considered as the third most popular drink all over the world, has played an important role in different civilizations and cultures all through human history. The cultivation of coffee plant first began in the north eastern part of Ethiopia, while the first evidences of drinking coffee was founded in the 15th century among the Muslims. Practice of drinking coffee soon spread far and near to parts of Europe, Italy, and Indonesia, where coffee was even used in religious ceremonies.
It is believed by many that followers of Islam consumed coffee for its strong caffeine kick that helped them to stay awake for prayers. Many even opine that effects of coffee were known to people ever since 900 B.C. One of the legends mentions about an Ethiopian shepherd known as Kaldi, who found his herd becoming uncommonly active after consuming some red cherries growing on a bush. He shared this particular story with a monk who wanted to try it on himself. He poured some hot water on these cherries and drank it. This incident occurred in the province of Kaffa, from where the word “coffee” came into origin. The oldest record related to coffee is a book written by an Arab physician Rhazem during the 10th century. Coffee drinking really gained prominence and popularity in Arabia where roasted beans were crushed into coffee powder as early as 1000A.D. With expansion of the Islamic empire the practice of coffee drinking too spread its influence, wherever Muslims went coffee followed them. In fact coffee did not grow outside Africa and Arabia until 1600.
Another story about this world renowned and beloved drink talks about a Yemeni physician named Sheik Omar. Driven out of Yemen for his controversial and anti-state views he traveled extensively all over the Arabian Peninsula and discovered coffee. He is said to have boiled some red beans that were the fruit of come local bush and was shocked by its stimulating affect. Subsequently he used it for stimulating his patients. In later years the blend was so loved by anyone who came to taste it that the news soon reached the ears of ruler of Yemen, who actually recalled the rebel physician in order to taste his new discovery for himself.
Later on, this plant was grown in Egypt, Syria and Turkey where coffee was popularly known as “Arabian Wine”. When at first coffee was invented it was much hated and reviled by heads of the states. Many people even faced punishment for drinking such a vile beverage but by 15th century, this beverage became one of the most favored drinks of common folk, nobles and kings alike. By 1700s coffee had invaded European nations and gained everyone’s vote as a tasty and stimulating beverage.
It’s really interesting to know how coffee plant started growing in Martnique. In the year 1714, Louis XIV was gifted a coffee tree from the Dutch and it was sent to the Botanical garden of Paris for planting. A naval officer Gabriel Mathieu de Clieu visited Paris and was surprised to see the coffee plant in the botanical garden. He tried to steal a branch of coffee plant and brought it to Martnique. The coffee plant started to grow in the soil of Martnique and hence forth over 18 million trees were grown in few years.
The large volume of trade was conducted between Venice, Egypt and North Africa which included commerce in different varieties of goods among which coffee was of prime importance. During this time period a controversy began that whether coffee was good for consumption or not. This dispute was solved in 1600 by Pope Clement VIII. Coffee became popular in Europe and in 1645 the first European coffeehouse was inaugurated in Venice. Another coffee shop was opened in Oxford’s Queen’s Lane, which still exists today attracting people from all over the world. During this time coffee houses were popularly called as ‘penny universities’ as a penny was charged for a cup of coffee. Patrons who wished to enjoy good service and better seats had to throw coins inside the tin. So, the word ‘tip’ came into existence. At one time, London, the premier European hub was considered a big coffee city with more than 3000 coffee shops. At the end of the seventeenth century, The Dutch started to transport coffee on a commercial basis. Today, there are several brands that sell different kinds of coffee.
Brazil holds a significant place in growing coffee and there is a really funny story connected to this. Practice of growing coffee plants in Brazil interestingly enough started with international smuggling and espionage. Government of Brazil wanted to establish their business in the coffee market, but for these they needed an agent who would smuggle coffee seeds for them from a foreign nation. The coffee seeds were delivered to Colonel Palheta in the form of a bouquet. This bouquet was full of coffee seedlings. Today, Brazil can be rightly called one of the world’s largest producers of coffee and to think it all started with smuggling.
