The History of Coffee

“The powers of a man’s mind are directly proportioned to the quantity of coffee he drinks.”

― Sir James Mackintosh

Humanity has been drinking coffee for centuries and the history of coffee is rich with tales and legends. Throughout history, many have wondered how the first coffee drinker discovered that coffee beans could be brewed into a cup of delicious, energy-boosting drink. But have you ever wondered: who invented coffee?

There are numerous origin stories—legends that are passed down orally— and there’s also proof of the earliest written reference that appears in the writings of a 15th-century Yemeni scholar.

Coffee’s Origin Stories

As the legend goes, the origin of how people first consumed coffee seems to stem from the eastern part of Africa, specifically Ethiopia and Yemen. 

In 9th-century Ethiopia, a young goatherder named Kaldi noticed that his goats became frenzied after eating some red berries. Intrigued, Kaldi tried the berries himself and instantly felt energized. He brought some of the berries to a nearby Monastery and gave them to a monk. Disapproving the unusual fruit, the monk threw the berries into the fire. From it, an enticing aroma swelled to the air, causing the nearby monks to approach. The beans were raked from the fire, ground, and mixed with water. This is the legend of how coffee beans evolved into a cup of joe in Ethiopia. 

Another legend revolves around a man called Sheikh Omar, who was known for his ability to heal others through prayer. For some unknown reason, he was banished from Mecca to a cave desert near Ousab City. Hungry, Omar ate the berries but found them too bitter. He then roasted the beans but found it too hard to eat. In the end, Omar boiled the beans to soften them, accidentally brewing the first cup of coffee. He drank it and felt rejuvenated for the next few days. Stories of Omar’s ‘miracle drug’ reached Mecca, and eventually, his banishment was revoked, allowing him to return as a saint.

A different account suggests that the Oromo People of Ethiopia were among the first humans to forage and consume wild coffee, not as a drink but as a snack. Unlike modern coffee bean processing, the Oromo people combined butter, roasted beans, and salt into balls to create a compact, sustaining snack that warriors, farmers, and merchants consume during grueling work or tough journeys.

Earliest Written Evidence

The first documented evidence of coffee consumption as a drink, however, dates back to 15th-century Yemen, in the writings of Ahmed al-Ghaffar, a Yemeni scholar. Sufi practitioners would grind fresh coffee cherries, boil them in water, and drink the brew to stay alert during their nightly prayers. A Sufi mystic, Shaikh ibn Isma’il Ba Alawi of Al-Shihr, defined coffee and prayers as “the enjoyment which the people of God feel in beholding the hidden mysteries and attaining the wonderful disclosures and the great revelations.”.

Coffee Throughout Time

In the 1450s, a Sufi Leader returning to Ethiopia said that worshipers in Yemen incorporate coffee into ritual chants and dances. This recommendation marked the beginning of the coffee trade in the Middle East. Shortly after, the people of the Ottoman Empire began roasting and grinding the beans to produce a bolder beverage. Many learned to mix coffee with spices like cinnamon or cardamom. Coffee culture blossomed, and coffee houses, known as “kahvehane,” became central to social life. Men gathered in these coffee shops to converse, smoke, drink coffee, and partake in various forms of entertainment like playing chess, backgammon-type games, singing and dancing, listening to music, and discussing politics and news.

By the late 1500s, coffee from Yemen began to be exported through the port of Al-Makha, also known as Mocha. It soon made its way to Egypt, North Africa, and India and was eventually cultivated in Java and other regions.

Now despite coffee’s growing popularity, there were several instances when coffee was banned throughout history – in Mecca, Italy, Constantinople, Sweden, and Prussia. Even so, coffee has always reclaimed its status as part of the humanity’s favorite beverages – right after water. 

Works Cited