History Of Coffee

 

Coffee has been a popular drink for over a thousand years and now with the beginning of a new millenium, it will be more popular than ever! this is because of the unique flavors, aromas and qualities, coffee drinkers worldwide will continue to make it a favorite pastime within all cultures. The appeal of coffee has been ensured over the last few centuries through better Management and Roasting Techniques.

The coffee bean was discovered in the Middle East. Being treated with the highest and almost holy regard, coffee has developed many facets to it's favor. From being the early morning revival brew to social customs, it is found now only a few steps away from each of us in our kitchens, shops, offices and restaurants almost ritually in a tradition that has taken centuries to evolve

How was coffee discovered as a brew? No one can prove how, but it is believed that coffee was first consumed in Ethiopia. It is also beleived that it was the arabica strain that was first cultivated there in small scale around 575AD.

Although there are many stories, legends and myths about the origin of coffee, there is the most popular well known story about the goatherder, Kladi. One day he had noticed that his goats were more active than usual for no reason. On closer inspection he found that they had been grazing on the bushes which bore small round red fruit. Boldly he tried them himself after smelling the sweet aroma.

Soon he was wide awake and full of a strange energy and the feeling of being uplifted and invigorated surprised him greatly. He took the fruit to the monastery thinking that a miracle had just occured, and told of his account to the Abbot. The Abbot instantly fearing the devil's work, flung the berries into the fire, whereupon a wonderfull and exotic aroma filled the air of the room.

As the aroma filled the room, the Abbot once again was inspired to beleive that this was a sign from God, as the aroma was pleasant, he then gave instructions for the berries to be removed from the fire immediately which several monks did by raking them out of the fire very swiftly indeed. As the berries were so hot, they immersed them in water to cool them.

After they had cooled the Abbot then set about examining both the charred berries and the water in which they were cooled in. He noticed also that the water had changed in color and again thinking this was a sign of God he very cautiously tasted the liquid.

Now the Abbot too, had this feeling of enlivenment and good feeling and so being convinced of a miracle he instructed the whole monastery that all the monks were to partake of it.

Since that miracle back in 575AD, coffee has been prized for it's stimulating effects, well before it became an everyday beverage. As a mild stimulant, the Africans used to take the green bean and grind it, mix it with fat and eat them.

By the 6th Century, coffee trees were being cultivated in what is today known as Yemen, on the Arabian Peninsula. There they used the raw husks of the coffee berries and the seed to make a sort of tea. For several centuries on, the signifigance of coffee had only been as a medicine, until the Arabs had discovered how to boil water and coffee then became a hot drink

Now, that coffee was well on it's way to fame and fortune, the drinking of coffee quickly spread throughout the Islamic Peoples of Arabia, Across the Red Sea to Ethiopia (1454 AD), eventually reaching Egypt, Turkey (1517 AD), Constantinople, Damascus, Syria by 1530 AD. It's advent onto the Western culture did not happen until the Seventeenth century. By now coffee had become a very valuable trading commodity indeed and by the 1630's it had reached England. Coffee was used in trade for such other commodities as spices and other saleable items.

There are however stories about the protection and monopoly of coffee and it's qualities throughtout history. The Arabs maintained a tight security for 4 centuries so that no foreigner or travelling civilian for that matter, would ever visit the plantations or even export the coffee seed unless of course it was roasted first

This protection did however fail as time grew on and the peoples of the whole world had developed a taste for coffees brilliant and distinct flavor. It would seem that such a special and popular drink could not be protected as much as the Arabs would have liked, as it was the Dutch, after many failed attempts, finall succeded in smuggling plants and subsequently cultivating coffee in Java in the early 1700's.

By the 1760's, coffee was being successfully grown in Guatemala and by 1780 in Costa Rica.

With this vast history of coffee, it is amazing to note, that coffee had taken well over 1300 centuries to spread across the globe, before the plant was actually introduced into Kenya. Up until now it had been cultivated in parts of the world such as, Arabia, Abbysinia (wild and first discovery - although by legend), Ethiopia, Martinique (French West Indies), Surinam (Java), Brazil, Guatemala and Costa Rica. Kenya did not see the cultivation of coffee until 1878 AD when the British settlers introduced it upon recognizing the excellent growing conditions which coffee cultivation required. Today, Kenya remains a major player in the growing and supply of some of the worlds finest coffees.

 

Coffee in it's development over several centuries had been found across the world in almost every major city where "coffee houses" had popped up every where. Qahveh khaneh (Arabian for coffee houses) were the first to be setup in the towns and villages of Arabia. The number of coffee houses quickly multiplied as coffee drinking became more and more popular, the qahveh khaneh were full of life with music and gambling. A relaxed atmosphere offering an informal stance of socializing with friends had been developed. It was a place that people from all walks of life to meet on the same level, to discuss the days events, the plans for tomorrow, much like we still do today.

As coffee became more refined and techniques were developed, the aromas of fresh coffee wasn't enough to be found just in the desert air, it had quickly spread into the markets and coffee houses around the world in which it became reserved only for the wealthy, medical profession, and priesthood.

This practice of coffee houses spread throughout the world in many major cities and towns and although coffees popularity was on the increase, so too was the imminent opposition to the society coffee was being seen to create.

Coffee houses in the early days were marked for control, many of the days rulers thought that they might place some stern control over the activities and customs that went along with coffee. But to no avail, it was such a popular pastime, that it was not to be controlled and even in it's strong stand in the community eventually spread to the family home where it also became an elaborate ceremony - much like it still is today!

The medical men thought coffee to be a digestive whilst the priests thought it to be a holy drink which was used to keep them awake through long nights of religous services.

Today, however, coffee has become the elemental drink that has transformed through modern evolution which has seen the advent of small cups, large cups, stovetop pots in all manner size and shape, electric brewing machines. But nevertheless, coffee still retains the fascinating spirit of it's historical development.