In the ancient coffee forests on the Ethiopian plateau, where coffee, as we know it today, got its start. Legend has it that a goat herder by the name of Kaldi stumbled upon some magical beans that would change the world forever. Kaldi discovered coffee after he noticed that after eating the berries from a certain tree, his goats became so energetic that they did not want to sleep at night.¹
He couldn’t keep this secret to himself, so he ‘spilled the beans to a nearby monastery. The monks are always up for trying new things. They decided to make a drink using these berries and were left buzzing with alertness throughout their long evening prayers.¹
The news soon traveled east and before you could say ‘espresso’, coffee had made its way to the Arabian peninsula. It then quickly spread like wildfire, making its way through European countries in the 17th century.²
The word ‘coffee’ has roots in several languages. It began in Yemen where it was called ‘qahwah’, a term originally reserved for wine. It transformed into Turkish ‘kahveh’, then became Dutch ‘koffie’, and finally found its way into its English name ‘coffee’. Who knew a little bean could have such an international journey and bring people from all over the world together over a single cup?³
Did you know that the modern version of roasted coffee was born in Arabia? During the 13th century, coffee became all the rage among the Muslim community for its awesome stimulant powers. It was the perfect pick-me-up during those long prayer sessions when you needed to stay alert and focused.³
In the 1960s, people began to take notice of the unique and complex flavors of specialty coffee, leading to a growing awareness of its potential. This excitement and appreciation for specialty coffee inspired the opening of the first Starbucks in Seattle in 1971, which marked a turning point in the coffee industry. Today, the coffee culture continues to evolve, with small independent cafés popping up and boasting locally roasted, fair trade beans.³
With countless varieties and brewing methods to choose from, here are some fun facts about coffee:
- Over 2.25 billion cups of coffee are consumed in the world every day.
- The lethal dose of caffeine is around 100 cups of coffee.
- Coffee can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and Parkinson’s disease.
- New Yorkers consume a whopping 7 times more coffee than any other city in the United States. No wonder why you can find a coffee shop on every street corner and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee fills the air.
Let’s explore the wonderful world of coffee together with a cup of Medspresso™️ Estate Ethiopian & Kenyan Blend Coffee.
References
- National Coffee Association. About-coffee: History-of-coffee. Available at: ncausa.org. Accessed on 28th April 2023.
- Myrhrvold N.2023. Coffee. Available at: Britannica coffee Accessed on 28 April 2023.
- Avey T. 2013. The history of food, the caffeinate coffee history. Available at: pbs.org. Accessed on 28 April 2023.
- Hawkins. A & Picard. C. 2018. 21 surprising facts that will perk up your afternoon. Available at: Good Housekeeping. Date Accessed 1 May 2023.
Written by:
Sylvia Jemutai
Digital Marketer