From Ethiopian Highlands to Global Phenomenon
Coffee's journey began in the ancient forests of Ethiopia, where legend tells of a goat herder named Kaldi who noticed his animals becoming energetic after consuming certain berries. These berries came from the Coffea plant, which grew wild in the region's highlands. By the 15th century, coffee cultivation had spread to Yemen, where Sufi mystics valued the beverage for its ability to keep them alert during nighttime prayers. From the Arabian Peninsula, coffee spread along trade routes to Egypt, Syria, and Turkey, where the world's first coffeehouses emerged as vital centers for social interaction and intellectual exchange. European travelers encountered coffee in the Ottoman Empire and brought the beverage back to their homelands, establishing coffeehouses that became hubs for political discussion, business transactions, and artistic movements—earning them the nickname penny universities for the education available at the cost of a cup. Shutdown123