| 850 - 1599 | 1600's | 1700's | 1800's | 1900's - Present |
The history of coffee... a simple timeline of events? I think not! No, the journey of coffee,
my friends is so much more. It's a swashbuckling adventure spanning a thousand years,
filled with death-defying escapes, international intrigue and - oh yes! - torrid romance.
From distant, tropical islands to the power centers of international trade, it has been
banned, berated, hailed and championed, generating as much fear as enjoyment. This is
not just a drink, this is magic, infusing itself into our psyche, stirring conflict and
controversy. Read on, friends, and enjoy the bold, robust voyage that is coffee.
• 850
An Ethiopian herdsman named Kaldi observed his goat, frolicking in quite a chipper mood
near a bush. Subsequently the goat chewed on the red berries and let out an exuberant
"Baaaaaaahhh!" The coffee berry is discovered!
Kaldi sampled the berries himself. A feeling of elation consumed him. He declared to his goat,
"These berries are heaven sent." So excited, he and the goat ran to the nearest monastery,
telling of their miraculous effect. "Baahhhhh!" "Baahhhhh!" The chief monk was not amused.
"Are you possessed?" 
He condemned the berries as the Devil's work and promptly threw them into the fire.
"Evil!" But soon after, the smell of fresh roasted coffee filled the pious halls of the monastery,
enticing the monks. After the chief monk dozed off, due to the lack of caffeine mind you, a young
rebellious monk snatched the cooling beans from the fire pit. This innovator, the world's first barista,
mixed the beans with water and the resulting brew kept the monks up all night thanking their creator.
"Hallelujah!" Quite a holy revelation, indeed!
Meanwhile, word of these fragrant, energizing berries
traveled to another corner of Ethiopia and caught the imagination of the Galla tribe. The Galla mixed
the berry with ghee, a clarified butter, and pressed the mixture into a scrumptious power bar.
Their warriors marched into battle with their new, energizing snack and were invincible! In fact,
similar bars are still eaten in Kaffa and Sidamo, Ethiopia to this day.
• 1000
Physician and philosopher Avicenna Bukhara writes the first known
literature describing the medicinal properties of coffee. A true visionary!
• 1100
Enterprising Arab traders return to their homeland, now modern-day Yemen, with coffee
from Ethiopia. They cultivate the plant for the first time on
plantations and create a most satisfying, uplifting drink by boiling the
beans in water. It is called "qahwa" or that which prevents sleep.
from Ethiopia. They cultivate the plant for the first time on
plantations and create a most satisfying, uplifting drink by boiling the
beans in water. It is called "qahwa" or that which prevents sleep.
Incidentally qahwa, also written as "kahwah", is one of many words Arabs used for wine. You see, in the process of stripping the coffee bean's cherry-like husk, the pulp can be fermented to make a potent, alcoholic beverage with quite a kick in the palate! While the Koran forbids wine or other such intoxicants, Muslims enamored with coffee argue that the brew is actually a stimulant. Was it as good for you as it was for me?
• 1453
Ottoman Turks introduce coffee to the bustling power center
of Constantinople. Those clever Turks add clove, cardamom,
cinnamon and anise for a most spicy, energizing concoction.
When in Istanbul, order this blast from the past that is still
enjoyed to
this day.
this day.
• 1454
The Mufti of Aden visits the Ethiopian countryside and sees his own citizens drinking
coffee. He must have a taste! The drink cures him of some unknown affliction and - voila!
His approval helps spread coffee's popularity all the way to Mecca. There, the first coffee
houses are established, known as Kaveh Kanes, which are used for religious meetings.
Gossip, singing and storytelling soon follow.
• 1475
Coffee shops open in Constantinople around this same time, which many claim are the
first. They become hotspots for lively discussions and political debates.
In fact, coffee becomes so much a part
of Turkish culture that they create a
law that makes it legal for a woman to
divorce her husband if he fails to
provide her with her daily quota... of
coffee that is. Coffee is widely held as
an aphrodisiac. Hubba-hubba!
• 1511
The trouble begins! Just over 50 years after coffee houses gain popularity in Mecca,
Governor Khayr Bey bans the drink, fearing its influence promoted energized discussions
and debates that could lead to opposition to his rule. He
shuts down shops as far away as Constantinople. Riots
break out, unrest spreads! And just when it appears a
coffee revolution could erupt, the Sultan of Cairo
intervenes. He sends word that coffee is sacred and has
the Governor executed. Off with his head! The lesson
here my fellow coffee lovers is, to always consult with
your Superior first before making a rash decision and
never, ever cut-off your bosses' coffee supply.
and debates that could lead to opposition to his rule. He
shuts down shops as far away as Constantinople. Riots
break out, unrest spreads! And just when it appears a
coffee revolution could erupt, the Sultan of Cairo
intervenes. He sends word that coffee is sacred and has
the Governor executed. Off with his head! The lesson
here my fellow coffee lovers is, to always consult with
your Superior first before making a rash decision and
never, ever cut-off your bosses' coffee supply.
To avoid execution, use Auto-Ship! Click here for details. Now back to history -- Coffee's place as a beloved beverage in the Muslim world is secured, but more importantly, its powerful influence is established. Rightly, so!
• 1570
Coffee arrives this year in Venice. This busy port city serviced the traders of the world
where they exchanged their unique treasures. At first, this rare exotic find is made
available only to the very wealthy, and was sometimes sold at premier lemonade stands for
medicinal purposes.
