The Complete Coffee Guide

Legend tells of Kaldi, an Ethiopian goat herder around 850 AD, who discovered coffee when his goats became unusually energetic after eating berries from a mysterious plant. Curious, he tried the berries himself and experienced newfound alertness.

The coffee plant originated in the ancient forests of the Ethiopian highlands, where wild coffee trees still grow today. Local monks began brewing the berries to stay awake during long hours of prayer.

From Ethiopia, coffee spread to Yemen in the 15th century, where Sufi monks cultivated it for their night-time devotions. Yemen became the world's first coffee exporter, shipping beans from the port of Mocha.

The Arab world embraced coffee, establishing the first coffee houses (qahveh khaneh) in Mecca around 1511. These became centers of social activity, earning the nickname 'Schools of the Wise'.

By the 17th century, coffee houses flourished across Europe. In London alone, over 300 coffee houses operated by 1675, becoming centers of intellectual exchange and business dealings.

Today, the specialty coffee movement honors these traditions while pushing the boundaries of quality, sustainability, and flavor exploration. Coffee unites over 2 billion cups consumed daily worldwide.