A Brief History of Coffee

The history of coffee goes back for centuries, it is enough to fill a book to read for days. The history of coffee is full of suspense and adventure. Exactly when and where it was discovered originally is hard to place because there have been several claims of its origins made over the centuries. It’s also not definitive who found it first, but there are legends and evidence it was found prior to the 15th century.

Many accounts of the origins of Coffee point to either Ethiopia or Yemen, but we may never know for certain. During the late 15th century coffee started to become more common and people started to cultivate it. Coffee then spread to the Middle East and into the marketplaces. As people traveled more coffee went with them and was often gifted or traded for goods along the way. Coffee expanded through Egypt, Persia and even to Italy by the 16th century, at which time coffee houses were established and people started to use them as meeting places. Depending where you were the coffee shops were almost like a bar for those that didn’t drink alcohol, making it a common place of discussion by all kinds of people. By the 17th century coffee had made its way to England and along to the Americas. After that coffee spread to become one of the most popular drinks of 20th century and today can be found all over the world.

The history of coffee is expansive and has been the center of  conversation for hundreds of years and it will continue for many more. It has brought people together during business and pleasure. It can be just your cup of espresso or a carafe full of coffee for everyone to share. Whatever the occasion most likely coffee will be there and will continue to be part of our everyday lives for centuries to come.

When you have your next cup of coffee, relax and reflect as you’re sipping away. If you really think about it, you are part of history with every cup of Coffee you make.