The History of Coffee: A Global Saga
The history of coffee is a journey that spans over a millennium, crossing oceans and continents, and evolving from a local Ethiopian stimulant into a global commodity that defines modern social life.
---
1. Ancient Origins: The Discovery in Ethiopia (c. 850 AD)
The story begins in the Ethiopian plateau. According to popular legend, a goat herder named *Kaldi* noticed his flock became unusually energetic after eating red berries from a specific tree.
*The First Brew:* After Kaldi shared his findings with a local monk, the berries were roasted and boiled. The resulting drink provided alertness during long hours of prayer, and the news of this "energy-giving" bean began to spread.
---
2. The Arabian Peninsula: Cultivation and Social Change (15th - 16th Century)
By the 15th century, coffee reached the *Yemen* port of Mocha. It was here that coffee was first cultivated and traded on a large scale.
*The Birth of Coffee Houses:* Known as *qahveh khaneh*, coffee houses appeared in cities across the Near East. They became centers for socializing, listening to music, and political debate.
*The "Wine of Araby":* Because coffee provided a mental "lift" without the intoxicating effects of alcohol, it became a staple in Islamic culture.
---
3. The European Renaissance (17th Century)
European travelers brought stories of the dark, bitter beverage back from the East. By the 17th century, coffee had arrived in Venice and London.
*The Pope's Blessing:* Initially, some priests called coffee the "bitter invention of Satan." However, Pope Clement VIII tasted it, enjoyed it, and gave it his blessing, stating it would be a "pity to let the infidels have exclusive use of it."
*Penny Universities:* In London, coffee houses were called "Penny Universities" because for a penny, a person could buy a cup of coffee and engage in high-level intellectual discussion. Lloyd’s of London and the London Stock Exchange both had their origins in coffee houses.
---
4. Colonial Expansion and the Americas (18th Century)
As demand skyrocketed, European powers raced to grow coffee in their own colonies to break the Arabian monopoly.
*The Dutch:* Successfully planted coffee in Java (Indonesia), which is why we still use the term "Java" today.
*The French:* Gabriel de Clieu famously transported a single coffee plant to Martinique in 1723. This plant became the parent of millions of coffee trees in the Caribbean and Central and South America.
*The Boston Tea Party:* In America, coffee consumption surged after the Boston Tea Party of 1773, as drinking tea was seen as "unpatriotic."
---
5. The Industrial Revolution to Today
The 19th and 20th centuries saw coffee become a global industrial powerhouse.
*The First Wave:* High production and the invention of instant coffee made the drink a household staple.
*The Second Wave:* The 1960s saw a shift toward quality, led by companies like Peet's and later Starbucks, introducing the "espresso" culture to the masses.
*The Third Wave:* Modern coffee culture treats coffee like wine—focusing on origin, roast profiles, and artisanal brewing methods (Pour-overs, Aeropress, etc.).
---
Quick Timeline Summary
| Period | Milestone |
| :--- | :--- |
| *850 AD* | Kaldi the goat herder discovers coffee in Ethiopia. |
| *1400s* | First cultivation and trade in Yemen. |
| *1615* | Coffee arrives in Venice, Italy. |
| *1652* | First coffee house opens in London. |
| *1727* | Coffee introduced to Brazil (now the world's largest producer). |
| *1903* | Sanka produces the first commercial decaf coffee. |
| *1971* | The first Starbucks opens in Seattle. |
Информация по комментариям в разработке