A Brief History of Coffee: From Ethiopian Highlands to Global Brew

Coffee, the beloved beverage that has captured the hearts and minds of people around the world, has a rich and fascinating history. It all began in the highlands of Ethiopia over 1,000 years ago.

Legend has it that a goatherd named Kaldi discovered coffee when he noticed his goats became more energetic after eating red coffee cherries. Intrigued by this phenomenon, Kaldi decided to try one himself and soon found himself wide awake and full of energy.

Word of this magical plant spread quickly throughout Ethiopia, and soon traders began carrying it across borders into neighboring countries. The first recorded reference to coffee can be traced back to an Arabian manuscript from 1453.

From there, coffee made its way westward through trade routes with Europe. The first known European mention of coffee was in Venice in 1615 by an Englishman named John Sanderson. However, it wasn't until the early 18th century that coffeehouses started popping up across Europe.

One notable example is London's famous White Horse Tavern which opened in 1698 as a meeting place for intellectuals like Alexander Pope and Jonathan Swift. Another iconic establishment is Vienna's Café Central where Sigmund Freud would often hold his psychoanalytic sessions.

In America during the late 19th century, Starbucks was founded by Jerry Baldwin Howard Schultz Illycafe Peter Gjernes Zev Siegl Gordon Bowker who wanted to bring espresso-based drinks like lattes cappuccinos frappuccinos chai tea latte macchiato caramel apple cider steamed milk hot chocolate pumpkin spice latte gingerbread latte peppermint mocha eggnog latte white chocolate mocha caramel brulee latte salted caramel mocha vanilla sweet cream cold brew cascara nero drink lemonade blackberry Iced Caramel Macchiato Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino Cinnamon Dolce Latte Chai Tea Latte Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew Pumpkin Spice Lattea Gingerbread Lattea Peppermint Mocha Eggnog Lattea White Chocolate Mocha Caramel Brulee Lattae Salted Caramel Mocho Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew Cascara Nero Drink Lemonade Blackberry Iced Caramel Macchiato Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino Chai Tea Lattee Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew Pumpkin Spice Lattaa Gingerbread Latta Peppermint Mocho Eggnog Latta White Chocolate Mocho Caramel Brulea Latta Salted Carame