If you’ve ever wondered when was coffee discovered, you’re not alone. The story of how we found this beloved beverage is a fascinating journey that spans centuries and continents, full of legend and historical intrigue.
It’s a tale that starts with curious goats and winds its way through monasteries, coffeehouses, and across oceans. The true origins are a mix of myth and verifiable fact, making the history of coffee as rich as its flavor. Let’s look at the timeline and stories that explain how coffee became a global phenomenon.
When Was Coffee Discovered
This question doesn’t have a single, simple answer. The discovery of coffee as a consumable stimulant is shrouded in ancient folklore, primarily from the region of Ethiopia. Most historians agree that the coffee plant is native to the Ethiopian plateau, and its energizing effects were first noticed there, though the exact year is lost to time.
The most popular legend involves a goat herder named Kaldi, who lived around 850 AD. The story goes that Kaldi noticed his goats became unusually energetic after eating the red berries from a certain bush. Intrigued, he tried the berries himself and experienced a similar vitality. He then brought the berries to a local monastery, where a monk disapproved of them and threw them into a fire. The roasting beans produced a captivating aroma, leading to the beans being rescued, ground, and dissolved in hot water, creating the first crude cup of coffee.
While this tale is charming, it’s likely an origin myth. The first credible evidence of coffee drinking or knowledge of the coffee plant appears later, in the middle of the 15th century, in the Sufi monasteries of Yemen. From there, the documented history becomes much clearer.
The Journey from Ethiopia to the World
Coffee’s path from a local Ethiopian plant to a worldwide commodity involved trade, religion, and politics. Here’s a simplified timeline of its key movements:
- 1400s: Coffee is cultivated and traded in Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula. The Sufi monks there used it to stay awake during long nights of prayer.
- 1500s: Coffee reaches the major cities of the Arab world—Mecca, Medina, Cairo, Istanbul. The first coffeehouses, called “qahveh khaneh,” open in the Near East, becoming centers of social activity, conversation, and music.
- 1600s: Coffee arrives in Europe through Venetian traders. The first European coffeehouse opens in Venice in 1645. Despite some initial suspicion from the clergy, who called it the “bitter invention of Satan,” Pope Clement VIII tasted it, approved, and gave it papal blessing.
- 1650s-1700s: Coffeehouses spread rapidly across England, Austria, France, and Germany. They become known as “penny universities” in London, where for the price of a coffee, one could engage in intellectual debate. The Dutch smuggle a coffee plant out of the Arab port of Mocha and begin cultivation in their colonies, breaking the Arabian monopoly.
- 1720s: A French naval officer brings a seedling to the Caribbean island of Martinique. This single plant is the ancestor of most coffee trees across Latin America, which would become the world’s primary coffee-producing region.
How Coffee Was Originally Consumed
Long before the espresso machine, people enjoyed coffee in very different forms. The earliest methods were far from the filtered brew we know today.
- The Cherry Whole: The earliest consumption may have involved eating the raw, red coffee cherries for their stimulating effect, much like Kaldi’s goats.
- Energy Balls: Tribes in Ethiopia would mix the crushed coffee cherry with animal fat to create protein-rich, energizing snack balls for long journeys.
- Qishr (Early Wine): A fermented drink made from the pulp of the coffee cherry, resembling a thin wine.
- Qahwa (The Original Brew): In Arabia, they began roasting and grinding the beans, then boiling them in water to create a simple, strong decoction, often flavored with spices like cardamom or ginger.
The Birth of the Coffeehouse Culture
The creation of the coffeehouse was a pivotal moment in social history. Unlike taverns, which served alcohol, coffeehouses offered a sober, stimulating environment for conversation. They became hubs for businessmen, artists, writers, and philosophers. In England, Lloyd’s of London, the famous insurance market, began as a coffeehouse. The New York Stock Exchange also has roots in a coffeehouse where traders would meet. This culture transformed coffee from a simple drink into a catalyst for commerce and ideas.
The Modern Coffee Industry Takes Shape
The 18th and 19th centuries saw technological innovations that shaped modern coffee drinking. The invention of the coffee percolator, the espresso machine (in 1884 by Angelo Moriondo), and later, instant coffee and drip brewing methods, made coffee more accessible and consistent. Mass production and global trade networks solidified coffee’s place as one of the world’s most valuable legal export commodities, second only to oil for many years.
Key Dates in Coffee’s Commercial History
To understand the scale of coffee’s growth, here are some important commercial milestones:
- 1727: The first coffee plantation is established in Brazil, which would become the world’s largest producer.
- 1864: The first brand of packaged roasted coffee, Arbuckle’s Ariosa, becomes popular in the United States.
- 1901: The first soluble “instant” coffee is invented by Japanese-American chemist Satori Kato.
- 1903: Ludwig Roselius patents the decaffeination process.
- 1971: The first Starbucks opens in Seattle’s Pike Place Market, setting the stage for the modern specialty coffee shop era.
Debunking Common Myths About Coffee’s Discovery
With a history so old, several myths have taken root. Let’s clarify a few:
- Myth: Coffee was discovered as a drink in its modern form from the start. Truth: It went through centuries of evolution, from food to wine-like drink to the boiled brew we recognize.
- Myth: Coffee originated in South America or Arabia. Truth: While Arabia was crucial to its early cultivation and spread, the plant species Coffea arabica is native to Ethiopia.
- Myth: Coffee was always popular and immediately accepted everywhere. Truth: It faced bans and controversy in Mecca, Constantinople, and parts of Europe before gaining widespread acceptance.
The Scientific Discovery of Caffeine
While people experienced coffee’s effects for centuries, they didn’t know why it worked. The active compound, caffeine, was first isolated in 1819 by the German chemist Friedlieb Ferdinand Runge. He was encouraged to analyze coffee beans by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, who was curious about what caused their wakeful properties. This scientific discovery helped explain coffee’s physiological impact and led to further studies on its benefits and drawbacks.
How Coffee Changed Societies
The influence of coffee extends far beyond the kitchen. Its introduction often had profound social effects:
- The Age of Enlightenment: European coffeehouses are frequently called the birthplace of the Enlightenment, where thinkers gathered to discuss philosophy and politics free from alcohol’s influence.
- Business and Finance: As mentioned, institutions like Lloyd’s of London began in coffeehouses, establishing them as centers of commerce.
- Political Revolution: In the American colonies, coffee became the patriotic drink of choice after the Boston Tea Party, and cafes like the Green Dragon Tavern in Boston were hotbeds of revolutionary planning.
Growing and Processing Coffee Through History
The methods for turning coffee cherries into drinkable beans have also evolved. For centuries, the dry process (sun-drying whole cherries) was the only method. In the 19th century, the wet process (removing the pulp before drying the bean) was developed, leading to a cleaner, brighter flavor profile that defined many high-quality coffees. Understanding these processes helps explain the different taste characteristics in coffee from various regions.
A Simple Timeline of Major Events
Here’s a quick-reference guide to coffee’s global journey:
- c. 850 AD (Legend): Kaldi and his goats in Ethiopia.
- 1400s: Cultivation begins in Yemen; used by Sufi monks.
- 1500s: Coffeehouses open in the Arab world.
- 1600s: Coffee arrives in Europe; first European coffeehouse opens.
- 1700s: Coffee spreads to the Americas via colonization and cultivation.
- 1800s: Technological innovations (espresso, decaf, instant) emerge.
- 1900s-Present: Rise of mass production, globalization, and the specialty coffee movement.
FAQs About the Discovery of Coffee
Who actually discovered coffee first?
There is no known single person. According to popular legend, it was an Ethiopian goat herder named Kaldi. Historically, it was likely the Oromo people of Ethiopia who first recognized the plant’s stimulating effects, with the knowledge later spreading to Yemen.
Where was coffee originally found?
Coffee was originally found growing wild in the highland forests of Ethiopia, specifically in the region of Kaffa, which some believe is the root of the word “coffee.”
How did coffee get its name?
The word likely evolved from the Arabic “qahwa,” which was a term for a type of wine. This became the Turkish “kahve,” then the Italian “caffè,” and finally the English “coffee.” The link to the Ethiopian region of Kaffa is also possible.
When did coffee become popular in America?
Coffee gained significant popularity in the American colonies during the 18th century, especially after the 1773 Boston Tea Party made tea a symbol of British tyranny. Drinking coffee became an act of patriotism.
What is the oldest coffee company?
One of the oldest continuously operating coffee companies is the White Horse Coffee House in London, founded in 1681. In terms of commercial brands, the Dutch company Douwe Egberts dates back to 1753.
How was coffee first made into a drink?
The earliest drinkable form was likely a simple tea made from the leaves or the fermented wine from the cherry pulp. The method of roasting the beans, grinding them, and boiling them in water was developed in the Arab world in the 1400s.
The Enduring Legacy of a Simple Bean
The story of when was coffee discovered is really the story of human curiosity and connection. From a chance observation in an Ethiopian field to the global chain of cultivation, trade, and preparation we see today, coffee has woven itself into the fabric of countless cultures. It has fueled artists, powered revolutions, and provided the backdrop for countless conversations. Its history is a reminder that the simplest things—a berry, a bean, a hot cup—can have the most profound and far-reaching impacts on how we live, work, and interact with each other. Next time you take a sip, you’re tasting a piece of history that’s over a thousand years in the making.