How Did Coffee Change the World?

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How did coffee change the world? The history of coffee can be traced back to as early as the 10th century. While the exact details of these origin stories cannot be confirmed, what is certain is that coffee originated from the high mountain rain forests of the southwestern Ethiopian province of Kaffa. The undomesticated source of coffee is a tree species called Coffea arabica, which produces a fruit known as a coffee cherry.

Origin Of Coffee

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The fruit is called a coffee cherry because it turns bright red when ripe. The skin tastes bitter, but the underlying cherry fruit is sweet. Coffee initially started as a food, not a drink, because of the fruit aspect of the coffee cherry. The real game changer was the coffee “beans” seed, which produced the most alluring and enduring flavor of the coffee cherry when roasted. Today, Arabica coffee accounts for 70% of global coffee production. All cultivated Arabica coffee trees worldwide are descendants of plants from Ethiopia.

The journey of coffee cherries from the mountains of Kaffa to the great Arab port of Mocha across the Red Sea is well-documented. There are accounts of slaves from present-day Sudan, which borders Kaffa on the west, consuming the coffee cherries and being taken into Yemen and Arabia. However, the exact reasons and methods for transporting the fruit from the Horn of Africa to the Arabian Peninsula, as well as the discovery of the coffee beans, have been lost to time.

In the past, just like today, thousands of pilgrims from around the world visited Mecca each year. When they returned home, they shared stories about the “wine of Araby,” the name for coffee then. However, Arab leaders wanted to maintain their control over the coffee trade. To ensure that coffee was only associated with their region, they banned the export of coffee beans. In 1616, Dutch traders found a way around these export restrictions, changing the world forever.

Let us go back in time and explore the origins of Mother Nature's fuel for hustlers like you.

An Ethiopian Legend

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Coffee, originating in the ancient coffee forests on the Ethiopian plateau, is now grown worldwide. Kaldi, a goat herder, is said to have discovered the potential of coffee beans. The legend goes that Kaldi observed his goats becoming energetic and staying awake at night after consuming berries from a certain tree. Upon learning of Kaldi's findings, the abbot of the local monastery made a beverage with the cherries and found that it helped him stay alert during the long evening prayers. The abbot then shared his discovery with the other monks at the monastery, and awareness of the invigorating cherries began to spread. As coffee made its way eastward and reached the Arabian peninsula, it went on a journey that would eventually transport its beans worldwide.

The Arabian Peninsula

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Coffee cultivation and trading began in the Arabian Peninsula. The Arabs were the first to cultivate and turn coffee beans into a drinkable liquid. Coffee was first grown in the Yemeni district of Arabia as far back as the 15th century. Its popularity had spread to Persia, Egypt, Syria, and Turkey by the 16th century.

Coffee was enjoyed in homes and qahveh khaneh—public coffeehouses that began to appear in cities across the Near East. The first coffeehouses were unlike anything that had existed before. People could visit these public places by paying for a cup of coffee. Initially, the authorities in Yemen supported coffee drinking, but as discussions turned to politics, the coffeehouses became hubs of political activity. Between 1512 and 1524, the imams began prohibiting both coffeehouses and coffee consumption. However, by then, coffeehouses and coffee drinking had become deeply rooted in the culture, and the coffeehouses continued to reappear. Eventually, a solution was found to allow coffee drinking and the existence of coffeehouses by imposing taxes on both, thus appeasing both the authorities and the public. The popularity of the coffee houses was unparalleled, and people frequented them for all kinds of social activities.

The patrons at the coffee houses didn't just drink coffee and chat; they also did other recreational things like listening to music, watching performers, playing chess, and keeping themselves informed about the news. Coffee houses quickly became important centers for exchanging information and were often called “Schools of the Wise.”

As thousands of pilgrims from around the world visited the holy city of Mecca each year, knowledge of the “wine of Araby” began to spread.

Coffeehouses became popular in cities and towns across the Arabian Peninsula. In 1530, the first coffeehouse in Damascus opened, followed by many more in Cairo. Istanbul's first coffeehouse opened in 1555.

In an attempt to prevent the cultivation of coffee elsewhere, the Arabs banned the export of fertile coffee beans. However, the Dutch found a way around this restriction in 1616 and brought live coffee plants back to the Netherlands.

Coffee Comes to Europe

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European voyagers to the Middle East returned with tales of an uncommonly black drink. Coffee had reached Europe by the 17th century and quickly gained popularity throughout the continent.

Some individuals responded to this new drink with distrust or apprehension, labeling it the “bitter creation of the devil.” When coffee landed at the canals of Venice in 1615, the local clergy denounced it. The dispute was significant enough to prompt an intervention from Pope Clement VIII. Prior to making a judgment, he opted to sample the drink for himself and found it so enjoyable that he granted it papal approval.

The emergence of coffee houses as centers of social activity and communication in major cities of England, Austria, France, Germany, and Holland also sparked controversy. In England, these establishments were dubbed “penny universities” because they could buy a cup of coffee for the price of a penny and participate in mentally stimulating conversations.

Coffee began to replace the popular breakfast drinks of the time, like wine and beer. Those who switched from alcohol to coffee started their days alert and energized, significantly improving the quality of their work.

By the mid-17th century, London had over 300 coffee houses. These places attracted similar-minded patrons such as merchants, shippers, brokers, and artists. Many businesses originated from these specialized coffee houses. For instance, Lloyd's of London was established at the Edward Lloyd's Coffee House.

Coffee in The New World

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In the mid-1600s, the British brought coffee to New Amsterdam, later called New York. There, coffee houses quickly started to appear. However, tea remained the preferred drink in the New World until 1773. That year, the colonists rebelled against a heavy tax imposed by King George III on tea. This rebellion, known as the Boston Tea Party, permanently shifted the American drinking preference towards coffee.

Coffee Comes to the Americas

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In 1714, the Mayor of Amsterdam presented French King Louis XIV with a young coffee plant. The King instructed it to be planted in the Royal Botanical Garden in Paris. In 1723, Gabriel de Clieu, a young naval officer, acquired a seedling from the King's plant. Despite facing a challenging voyage, which included severe weather, an attempt to sabotage the seedling, and a pirate attack, he successfully transported it to Martinique.

After being planted, the seedling survived and thrived over the next 50 years. Even more remarkable is that this particular seedling is the ancestor of all coffee trees in the Caribbean, South America, and Central America.

The most famous Brazilian coffee is attributed to Francisco de Mello Palheta, who was sent to French Guiana to acquire coffee seedlings. The French did not want to share, but the French Governor's wife, taken by Francisco's good looks, gifted him a large bouquet before he left. Concealed within were enough coffee seeds to start a billion-dollar industry. Today, Brazil remains the world's top producer of coffee. 

Missionaries, travelers, traders, and colonists spread coffee seeds to new lands, leading to the widespread cultivation of coffee trees. Coffee plantations were established in tropical forests and mountain highlands with varying degrees of success. Coffee economies gave rise to new nations and created fortunes and financial losses. At the tail end of the 18th century, coffee was one of the world's most profitable export crops. After crude oil, coffee is the second most sought-after commodity in the world.

Coffee Plantations Around the World

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The demand for this dark drink spread, leading to fierce competition to cultivate the plant outside of Arabia. As mentioned above, the Dutch obtained seedlings in the latter half of the 17th century. There were initial attempts to plant them in India, but they failed. Ultimately, they succeeded in Batavia, on the island of Java, which is now part of Indonesia. The plants thrived there, and the Dutch soon had a growing coffee trade. They further expanded the cultivation of coffee trees to the islands of Sumatra and Celebes.

A Global Drink

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Over the centuries, coffee has grown increasingly popular. The International Coffee Organization (ICO) tells us it is the world's number 1 traded tropical agricultural commodity. In 2010, about 70 countries produced coffee, with approximately 26 million people employed in the global coffee sector across 52 producing countries. The exports of coffee in 2009-10 reached 93.4 million bags, valued at an estimated $15.4 billion, as reported by the London-based group. A December 2014 USDA analysis forecasted global production for 2014-15 at 149.8 million bags.

Beyond its role as a morning tradition, the global desire for and cultural significance of coffee led to its inclusion on our list of influential foods. Coffee took less time than other foods we've examined, such as grapes, olives, or tea, to profoundly impact cultures and local and worldwide economies. Our account of coffee's history is primarily drawn from information provided by the ICO and The National Coffee Association USA, Inc. in New York City.

Value of Coffee Today

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According to Food Industry News, the United States takes the bag for the world's largest consumer of coffee, with global consumption reaching close to 1.6 billion cups per day. Americans spend over $40 billion annually on this drink. Still, the National Coffee Association assures that brewing a cup at home costs less than a dime, making it a better value than soft drinks (13 cents), milk (16 cents), bottled water (25 cents), beer (44 cents), orange juice (79 cents), and table wines ($1.30), according to the group.

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