Coffee is right up there at the top of the world’s favorite drink list and requires no introduction. Whether your favorite cup of coffee is the one you enjoy first thing in the morning courtesy of our drip coffee pot, or a “pick me up” cup in the afternoon thanks to your French press, or from your favorite cafe, coffee is just an enjoyable experience. For many of us coffee is more than just a beverage, it offers a unique opportunity to be social. You can go out for coffee on a date or just as a getaway with friends. Business meetings are held over coffee in many parts of the world and traditionally it has served many other purposes as well. Coffee has a rich history that many of us forget about when enjoying our daily dose.
The coffee plant was first discovered in Ethiopia in the 11th century; it had a small white blossom on it and smelled like cherry. The plant itself was found to have medicinal properties as well, and for a while that was all it was used for; boiled in hot water and then used to treat various illnesses. Eventually, like the rest of us, people just started to enjoy the way it tasted.
In the mid-14th century the popularity of coffee started to spread throughout Yemen. Yemen was a perfect location to harvest coffee and it continues to be one of the most popular places to grow coffee today. Another couple hundred years and coffee started to become popular in Istanbul, becoming a favorite in the royal family, so much so that an honorary position was created in the hierarchy called “Chief Coffee Maker.”
As coffee became more and more common and accessible this increasingly popular drink started to spread to other parts of the world as well. By the end of the 1600’s it was all over France and London, becoming a great alternative for tea; soon after coffee houses started to open up around the world.
These time honored traditions are still around today, only in a very different form. Each culture has had an impact on how we have coffee today. The U.S. is credited with Americanos, Colombia is known for their rich, smooth and dark coffee grounds, Espresso finds its roots stemming back to Turkish coffee, and flavored lattes are a more modern treat. Coffee continues to evolve and change but however you enjoy it remember that it echoes the traditions of worldwide coffee culture.
Rob Hamilton
