Over the years, the bean has made its way around the world, despite being considered illegal in many places.
It’s incredible that the humble coffee bean, harvested from tiny trees in Ethiopia, has risen to become the world's second most actively traded commodity.
Have you ever wondered how it made its way to Europe?
Prepare to be whisked away on an adventure spanning centuries and continents.
Coffee in Europe
Coffee made its way into Europe through the port of Venice. European explorers brought stories of a peculiar dark black drink from the Near East.
When coffee arrived in Venice in 1615, the local clergy strongly disapproved. This novel drink was dubbed "the bitter invention of Satan." Pope Clement VIII of the Catholic Church was invited to mediate because of the heated debate.
Before he made an informed judgment, he sampled the drink for himself and found it so delicious that he gave it papal approval.
The beverage gained legitimacy in European markets after Pope Clement VIII had it christened.
Soon its popularity quickly spread, and coffee cafes rapidly spread throughout England's major cities, Austria, France, Germany, and Holland.
Coffee gradually replaced beer and wine as the typical drinks consumed before breakfast.
Those who started the day with a cup of coffee rather than a glass of wine were more focused and productive. (This may have been the birthplace of the present workplace coffee service.)
The first coffee houses in Europe were established in 1645 in Italy. St. Michael's Alley, Cornhill, England, was the site of the first known coffee shop, opened in 1652 by entrepreneur Pasqua Rosee and Turkish goods merchant Daniel Edwards.
London had more than 300 coffee houses by the mid-17th century, and many of them catered to the same clientele of merchants, shippers, brokers, and artists.
Out of these specialized coffee shops, many companies arose.
For instance, Lloyd's of London was created from the famous Edward Lloyd's Coffee House.
Within a century, coffee's popularity had risen to the point where 3,000 coffee shops were open across England.
Following its introduction to France by a Mehmed IV envoy in 1670, coffee quickly gained popularity in the capital city of Paris. In 1683, Vienna welcomed the first coffee house to the city.
Rapidly, coffee and cafes swept across Europe.
This is about 3.244 million tonnes of coffee in consumption.
Europe is also the largest importer of coffee in the world.
Final Thoughts
Coffee has had a long journey, from being discovered in Ethiopia to being the most consumed beverage in Europe.
Despite its initial challenges, it has become one of the most consumed products in Europe. For a wide variety of genuine rich flavored coffee, visit our coffee store today for your slice of this history.