The majority of us Kiwis look forward to starting our days with a flavorful cup of coffee. We hold ourselves to a very high level when it comes to coffee. Coffee has always been and will continue to be an important part of the social culture of New Zealand, regardless of whether it is purchased from a neighbourhood barista or produced at home.
Coffee has been a part of human culture for hundreds of years, and now it is the world’s second most widely traded commodity in accordance with legal standards.
Let’s take a look back at the origins of coffee, shall we?
A goat discovered coffee?
It is reported that an Ethiopian herder by the name of Kaldi saw the strange behaviour and high levels of activity shown by his goats. He saw that the herd was consuming the fruit of a certain tree, which resembled cherries, and chewing it. This fact piqued Kaldi’s interest, so he sampled the cherry fruit for himself and observed the changes it brought about.
After that, Kaldi communicated his results to the abbot of the nearby monastery. The abbot subsequently created a drink with the cherries and discovered that it kept him attentive during the many hours of nighttime prayer. Soon after that, news began to spread about these wonderful berries, and soon after that, cherished coffee beans were found.
First use
Unprocessed coffee is a cherry-like fruit that becomes red when it is fully mature; the coffee bean can be located in the heart of the coffee cherry. Coffee is a fruit that is processed to remove its cherry-like appearance. Before it became widely eaten as a beverage, people used to drink coffee in a variety of different ways. Ancient people in Ethiopia combined the fruit with ghee, which is clarified butter, and formed the resulting substance into a delicious energy bar using a pressing method. Their troops charged into battle while munching on their newly developed combat rations.
The first stage in the process of creating coffee as it is traditionally prepared was to roast the coffee beans, which did not become common practise until the 15th century.
Origin of the word “coffee”
Early in the year 1500, the term “coffee” was formed from the Dutch word “koffie.” In Yemen, the beverage was given the name qahwah, which is derived from an old Arabic word that romantically referred to wine. In later times, it was renamed kahveh in Turkey and koffie in the Netherlands.
History
It is generally agreed that Arabia was the region in which the practise of roasting coffee beans initially began. The Muslim society enjoyed drinking large quantities of coffee during this time period (the 13th century).
Drinking coffee is first documented in Yemen’s Sufi monasteries around the middle of the 15th century. This is the oldest convincing evidence of coffee consumption.
The name “qahwah” originally referred to wine, and during their nightly devotions, the Sufis of Yemen would drink the beverage as a way to improve their ability to concentrate and to stay awake.
The popularity of coffee quickly extended from the Middle East across the rest of Europe, including the Balkans, Italy, and the rest of Europe; eastward to Indonesia; and finally westward to the Americas, mostly via the Dutch.
Introduction of coffee to Europe
The island of Malta is credited as being the location where coffee was first brought to Europe in the 16th century. By the middle of the 17th century, coffee had gained a significant following over the whole of the European continent.
The notion of a coffee shop, which is believed to have originated in Arabia, was rapidly gaining popularity in Europe at the time. People were amused in coffee houses by the utilisation of various activities such as music performances, dancing, games, and conversations about the most recent breaking news. These coffee cafes quickly had a reputation for being “schools of the wise,” which meant that they were the place to go if you wanted to find out what was going on in the world at the time.
People were able to have a more awake and invigorated start to their day as a result of the widespread adoption of coffee as an alternative to the traditional morning drinks of the time, beer and wine.
Introduction of coffee to the Americas
The coffee plant was originally brought to the Americas in 1720, when coffee seedlings were planted on the island of Martinique, which is located in the Caribbean.
In the year 1734, the colonial French province of Saint-Domingue began growing coffee, and by the year 1788, it was providing half of the world’s supply.
By 1852, Brazil had already established itself as the world’s leading producer of coffee, and it has maintained that position ever since.
At the close of the 1800s, coffee had reached the status of a global commodity, which made it possible for businesspeople to search for opportunities to make money off of the popular beverage. It was at this time that the globe witnessed the introduction of the coffee bean roaster that empties itself as it works and pre-roasted coffee sold in paper bags.
Coffee has an illustrious history that spans hundreds of years, and now it is an essential component of the economy of the whole globe.
Coffee 101 – All You Need To Know