The legend of coffee’s discovery dates back to around 800-900 A.D. in Ethiopia. Kaldi, a young goat herder, noticed his goats becoming lively after eating berries from an evergreen shrub. Curious, Kaldi tried the fruit himself and felt energized. A monk passing by learned about the berries from Kaldi and took some to his monastery. He made tea from the berries, which helped him stay alert during prayers. This discovery spread, and soon, the coffee plant became a vital part of Ethiopian culture, with people finding various ways to consume it, like chewing the beans, brewing them, and even making wine from the pulp.
Coffee’s journey from Ethiopia to global prominence began with its trade to Yemen, where it was first roasted and brewed into qahwa, a stimulating drink. Arabian traders introduced coffee cultivation to Yemen, leading to widespread farming and the establishment of large estates. When the Ottoman Turks took control of Yemen in 1536, coffee became a significant export throughout their empire, with a meticulous trade route established to export the beans to Europe via the Red Sea and Egypt.
To maintain their monopoly, the Turks imposed strict measures to prevent the germination of exported beans, ensuring that only Yemen could cultivate coffee. Despite these efforts, the port city of Mocha remained a major coffee market until the 18th century, famous for the Mocha coffee varietal.
Coffee made its way to Istanbul, where the Ottoman palace developed a unique preparation method, making coffee a crucial part of their culture and leading to the creation of the first coffeehouses, kaveh kanes, which played a significant role in Constantinople’s social life. Turkish law even stated that a lack of coffee was grounds for divorce.
The monopoly was challenged in the 17th century when Baba Budan smuggled coffee seeds out of Yemen, cultivating them in India. This act, alongside the Dutch’s efforts to grow coffee in their colonies, marked the beginning of coffee’s global cultivation outside the Arabian Peninsula, laying the foundation for coffee’s global popularity today.
A Proud Part of Coffee History
Starbucks is proud of our participation in the story of the almighty coffee bean. And we are humbled by the connections we have made and how our coffees and cafés have been embraced by so many people in so many places. We love what we do, and who knows what new shapes this love will take in the years to come. But at the same time we feel like we are just at the giddy beginnings of our coffee journey. Like Kaldi and his dancing goats, we are alive with energy and excitement, looking forward to what the future holds.
