Buzz
Prepare to be astonished as coffee claims the title of the world's second-largest traded commodity, just behind oil. Even gold and many other valuable assets bow down to coffee's remarkable feat of selling around 400 billion cups each year.
However, not everyone is well-versed in the origins of coffee and the significant events intertwined with it. A journey spanning over 1000 years, from an obscure plant to the enchanting magical beans captivating billions, is truly a commendable milestone.
How was coffee discovered? How did it evolve into the diverse brews we savor today? Grab a fragrant cup of coffee and join TopListCafe in relishing this fascinating story.
The Origin of Coffee Trees: A Herd of Goats Makes History
I swear this is 100% true! It might sound unbelievable, but there is plenty of documentation and evidence supporting this conclusion.
It all began around 850 AD in Ethiopia, a country in East Africa. Kaldi, the protagonist of our story, was a farmer who herded goats. One day, he noticed something peculiar about his goats.
The behavior and excitement of the goats seemed beyond normal, catching Kaldi's attention. Eventually, he discovered that this happened only when the herd consumed a strange reddish-brown fruit resembling a cherry (which turned out to be coffee beans).
Some accounts even tell of the 'goats dancing,' but, of course, it took a while for people to believe that...
The growing curiosity and temptation led Kaldi to try the fruit himself. After experiencing the burst of vitality, he brought them to the monastery in the village, seeking advice from the wise monks.
Surprisingly, after examining and hearing Kaldi's story, the monk angrily tossed the fruits into the fire. He believed they embodied evil and demonic forces.
However, fate had other plans. After meeting the flames and roasting, the coffee beans began to emit a peculiar, enchanting aroma. The entire monastery became irresistibly curious, extinguished the fire, and decided to 'investigate' the beans from scratch.
They experimented by putting them in hot water, luckily turning them into liquid coffee, quite literally. Eventually, they tasted and delved deeper into the stimulating effects on heightened brain activity. Consequently, the monks decided to use coffee for increased productivity in their work and prayers throughout the day.
Origin of the Name 'Cafe' - Who Named It?
'Cà phê' or 'café' in French are not the original terms to name these beans. Both are borrowed from 'coffee,' which originated in 1582 in English.
However, 'coffee' wasn't the first term to designate coffee beans. In reality, the noun for coffee names worldwide went through a series of borrowings across languages:
Thus, it can be said that Arabic was the first language to devise a term for coffee beans. The Arab countries are situated in the Middle East – also the region earliest exposed to this type of bean after Ethiopia.
The term 'qahwah' in Arabic originated from a concept referring to wine. However, it also shares a similar structure and connotation related to characteristic coffee terms, for example:
Middle East: A Pioneering Milestone for Coffee
The first time coffee stepped into the world
Following the goat association with coffee origins in Ethiopia, let's delve into the developments in the Middle East, encompassing countries in Southwest Asia and Egypt.
According to historical records, the late 15th century marks the first evidence of coffee being transported from Ethiopia to the Republic of Yemen (a country in the Middle East, located on the Arabian Peninsula). Subsequently, there were more similar shipments arriving in the port city of Mocha in Yemen.
The city of Mocha in the Republic of Yemen.
Fun fact: The port city of Mocha is also where the name and original brewing method of Mocha coffee were born.
Sufi followers (a branch of Islam) in Yemen often used coffee to enhance concentration during prayers, especially during nighttime rituals. They even considered drinking coffee as a way to 'purify the soul' with each worship session.
Gradually, coffee beans were brought to many other cities such as Mecca and Cairo (Egypt), Medina (Saudi Arabia), Damascus (Syria), Baghdad (Iraq), Istanbul (Turkey). The locals enthusiastically embraced it, quickly joining the world's coffee enthusiasts.
Since then, the first coffee shops were opened, collectively known as 'Schools of the Wise,' functioning as simple gathering places for people to socialize.
For some reason, the Mecca City Court (Egypt) did not approve of coffee consumption. They issued a citywide ban, but eventually retracted it due to complex religious reasons.
Law-breaking Saint
In another twist, Baba Budan – a saint of the Sufi sect – clandestinely brought back 7 raw coffee beans from the city of Mocha to India. This pivotal step significantly contributed to the global popularity of coffee.
Why did Baba Budan have to do it secretly? During that time, Yemen wanted a monopoly on coffee. Thus, they never exported raw beans, allowing other countries to cultivate them as seedlings; instead, they only sold roasted and processed coffee beans.
Each stage of processing the fruit and coffee beans, from harvesting to the final roasting and grinding.
The number '7' holds sacred significance in Islam and the Sufi sect, amplifying the impact of Budan's act of bringing 7 coffee beans to India. The plantation that received those beans later took his name for their establishment.
This marked the beginning of the coffee origin tale in India, swiftly spreading across the country and neighboring regions.
The Coffee Craze in Europe
Italy
The origins of coffee in Europe trace back to the city of Venice (Italy) in 1570. Initially, coffee here was surrounded by misconceptions, much like in Ethiopia years ago, considered a mystical brew.
The cognitive stimulation of coffee raised suspicions, leading them to seek counsel from the Pope of that era. Eventually, Pope Clement VIII decided in favor, having tasted it and becoming an avid coffee enthusiast.
Pope Clement VIII nodding in Starbucks ecstasy (#justforfun).
The Netherlands
Similar to India, the Netherlands obtained its first coffee beans for cultivation by... sneakily acquiring them from Yemen and smuggling them across borders.
However, this proved a somewhat cumbersome process as the Dutch climate was too cold for coffee to adapt and thrive. The ideal solution later devised was to grow coffee in greenhouses.
Austria
In harmony with the ambiance of other European countries, Austria had its unique way of embracing and fostering coffee. Just that, the circumstances this time were a bit 'special.'
It all traces back to the battlefield at Vienna in 1683, when Austria, along with Germany and Poland, defeated the Ottoman Empire (Turkey at that time). After the victory, the retreating enemy left behind a coffee stock, which was explored and utilized to create various delightful blends.
A painting depicting the battlefield at Vienna between Austria and the Ottoman Empire in history.
England
The coffee culture in England is robust and flourishing, marked by the emergence of coffee-serving hubs and the demand for socializing and conversation.
These coffee establishments were often called 'Penny Universities'—places where buying a cup of coffee for just a penny granted you access to intellectually rich and fascinating conversations.
Women of that era complained that coffee was becoming a second liquor, as their husbands seemed to frequent coffee houses continuously. In 1674, they even launched a protest campaign against coffee to 'save' their men.
Coffee Touches Down in the Americas: A Storm of Rapid Expansion
The ascent of coffee in the Americas
After the coffee craze in Europe, the fame of coffee continued to spread. However, monopolistic coffee regulations still held sway in many European countries. Therefore, finding a haven for these beans in the Americas through traditional imports proved to be challenging.
Captain Gabriel Mathieu de Clieu from France embarked on this 'noble mission.' In reality, his action was quite simple—stealing coffee beans from the garden of King Louis XIV of France and carrying them along.
In the early 18th century, Gabriel docked in the Caribbean, adjacent to the Americas, unaware that he played a pivotal role in spreading coffee in this region. Thanks to Gabriel, coffee was propagated in Jamaica (a Caribbean island) in 1730, organized large-scale cultivation, and gradually introduced to many other countries.
Coincidentally, the people in the Americas were rallying for the 'throwing of British tea into the sea' to protest against British taxation policies. Consequently, coffee seized the opportunity to become the national beverage, while tea fell into severe disdain.
Coffee shops sprouted abundantly in New York, attracting customers from various political, business, and transient backgrounds. All shared a commonality: curiosity and a fervent desire to savor, even trade coffee when the opportunity arose.
After dominating in the U.S., coffee was leveraged, becoming one of the top popular beverages. Currently, the U.S. stands as the world's leading coffee importer with enormous annual demand.
Leading coffee-producing nation
Brazil remains the unbeatable name associated with this illustrious title, maintaining its supremacy to this day. The coffee production and yield in this South American country surpass any other place on Earth.
In 1822, the locals here quickly went crazy after successfully smuggling coffee beans into the country for cultivation. By 1852, Brazil had become the leading nation in coffee cultivation and never once lost its prestigious title.
In 1893, numerous coffee plantations and farms were established in South and Central America. From then on, coffee production for trade steadily increased, spreading globally.
By the late 19th century, coffee officially became a renowned beverage known to most of the world, consistently sought after and cultivated.
History of Coffee Brewing Machine Development
Growing coffee alone wasn't enough; people quickly realized the need for creativity and systematic appreciation. Various methods of brewing and processing coffee began to emerge from diverse cultural backgrounds.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the invention of coffee brewing/steeping pots and coffee roasters was introduced. These were the foundational bricks paving the way for modern coffee brewing art.
It all began in 1901 when the Espresso coffee machine was patented by Luigi Bezzera, a mechanical engineer in Milan, Italy.
Although Luigi wasn't the first to conceive the coffee machine design, he brought remarkable improvements. Luigi's version allowed for incredibly fast Espresso brewing, setting the standard recognized by modern machines.
A sketch depicting Luigi Bezzera's Espresso machine design.
Nevertheless, Luigi's achievement suffered an undesired drawback: the brewed Espresso had an excessively bitter taste due to the machine's uncalculated process.
The reason is that Bezzera's Espresso machine used a mechanism of directly boiling water with fire, making it challenging to control pressure and temperature precisely. Consequently, he couldn't generate stable pressure for filtering and extracting coffee.
By 1945, Achille Gaggia introduced a manual lever-operated Espresso machine using a compressed piston, creating higher water pressure for coffee processing. The flavor thereby became more standardized and gained widespread preference.
In 1908, the drip coffee brewing method was successfully experimented and patented by Melitta Bentz, a German businesswoman.
Also in the early 1900s, instant coffee was invented by Nestle. Recognizing the risk of excess coffee due to rapid production, they created this 'on-the-go' coffee to avoid surplus and sales decline.
The most encouraging news at that time was the official recognition in the United States that coffee met safety standards and was beneficial to health. This helped coffee products escape many previous prohibitions and controversies.
3 Phases of the Global Coffee Trend Transformation
Even though it has been imported and flourished in many countries, coffee and its blooming journey have truly just begun.
Growing and spreading coffee across continents is one thing, but turning coffee into a premium, top-rated beverage is another story. This process goes through three main stages, known as the 3 Waves of Coffee, profoundly influencing the global coffee scene.
From the distribution of beans to the skills of coffee processing and various factors, all contribute to taking coffee through historical ups and downs to achieve the position it holds today.
Phase 1 (First Wave of Coffee): Convenience above all
In the 1980s-1990s, people drank coffee primarily for its exotic flavor and, to some extent, its wakefulness effects, without truly caring about refined tastes.
During this stage, coffee was simply a trendy commodity, not distinctive enough to make a profound impression. Coffee shop chains did not heavily invest in the origin of the beans or the quality of brewing.
In Phase 1, the coffee processing and brewing were rudimentary, with little emphasis on all aspects.
Many believed coffee was an artificial product from factories, not harvested from natural crops. The neglect in quality and flavor refinement caused such harmful misconceptions.
Even beverage brands were not keen on advertising the source of coffee farms or how they processed raw beans. All they cared about was making quick and convenient coffee to maximize profits.
Characteristics of the 'First Wave of Coffee':
Phase 2 (Second Wave of Coffee): Innovating Taste
Brands like Starbucks and Caribou Coffee represent this phase. They played a significant role in transforming the landscape of coffee brewing and the coffee culture in the United States, and later, globally.
Introducing in-depth coffee knowledge has earned them a significant reputation in the eyes of customers. This was something the coffee scene of the '80s and '90s hadn't achieved before.
The origin of coffee, the selection of high-quality bean sources – all were promoted to the public. Without even tasting the flavor, these details created enough intrigue for people to immediately become fascinated with coffee.
More and more people are paying attention to and refining their taste for coffee.
After making a lasting impression, Starbucks advanced with a strong 'attack' using its innovative coffee brewing recipes.
They pioneered classic Espresso brewing techniques along with sweeteners or syrups to create flavors. Starbucks aimed to showcase investment and innovation in coffee brewing, initiating a community and barista culture.
Certainly, the results Starbucks achieved exceeded all expectations, bringing about a massive reputation effect and helping the coffee industry escape the bitter and bland aftertaste of the 'First Wave of Coffee' before.
Characteristics of the 'Second Wave of Coffee':
Giai đoạn 3 (Third Wave of Coffee): Elevating the Experience
Although Phase 2 achieved many successes, there was still a significant oversight that hadn't received much attention: the coffee bean processing before brewing.
Only a small group of coffee drinkers knew how to taste various bean varieties from different growing conditions or alter the bean processing methods. Most brands, even the giant Starbucks at that time, overlooked this.
For instance, even the behemoth Starbucks then focused solely on flavor post-processing, rather than delving into the quality processing of the original beans.
Gradually, these ideas and habits evolved, strongly impacting the coffee industry in the United States, Australia, Canada, and beyond. More people are now aware and eager to try different coffee beans, from adjusting roasting levels to creating innovative brewing formulas.
The year 1999 marked the official explosion of the “Third Wave of Coffee,” becoming a widespread movement for coffee enthusiasts worldwide. They understood that coffee wasn't just a simple bitter taste but held much more essence.
Characteristic of the “Third Wave of Coffee”:
Specialty Coffee: The Evolution of Third Wave Coffee
The concept of Specialty Coffee is no longer unfamiliar to many, especially with the increasing number of coffee shops opening and being associated with this title. However, most of us only vaguely understand that it implies a certain level of 'professionalism' without grasping the true essence of what Specialty Coffee is.
In fact, the definition of Specialty Coffee has a close connection to the Third Wave of Coffee mentioned above. One could even say that Specialty Coffee is a small upgrade within the Third Wave phase.
This concept was coined by the SCAA (Specialty Coffee Association of America). This organization evaluates coffee flavors worldwide on a scale from 0-100.
In this evaluation, coffees scoring 60 or above on the SCAA scale are considered commercially standard, while those scoring 80 or above join the ranks of 'specialty coffee.'
In other words, Specialty Coffee represents coffee products that embody decades of experience and essence – including roasting, brewing, crafting, and presentation. The Third Wave of Coffee lays the foundation for the creation of today's Specialty Coffee.
The history of the origin of coffee dates back over 1000 years and continues to evolve and innovate. This journey is bound to become even more diverse and fascinating in the future, thanks to the aid of technology.
After all, who would have thought that the mere grazing habit of a goat herd would lead to the creation of the largest beverage industry on the planet?
Will there be a 'Fourth Wave of Coffee' in the future to build upon and revolutionize all the existing achievements in the world of coffee? The answer to this question probably lies in time's ability to unveil it.
Posted by: Tú Đội
Keyword: The global origin of coffee: It all stems from... a goat herd?
