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Who First Invented Coffee?

Coffee is a popular beverage worldwide, serving over 400 billion cups annually. Statistics show that Americans drink 400 million cups of coffee every day. The coffee beverage is brewed from the coffee beans of a coffee plant which is cultivated across the globe in over 70 countries, Brazil being the largest producer, followed by Vietnam and Colombia. But, the big question remains who invented coffee? Keep reading to find out.

The History of Coffee Invention

Although the coffee plant is native to tropical Africa, coffee as a beverage is believed to trace its roots in Yemen - Sufi Shrines. This shrine was the first place where the coffee berries were roasted and brewed, similar to how we prepare the drink today. Several legends explain who invented coffee, and they are as follows:

1)     One legend explains that coffee was invented by Sufi Sheikh al-Shadhili of Morocco when he was travelling across Ethiopia. The Sheikh observed birds full of unusual energy after eating the coffee berries. He experienced the same vitality level when he tried eating the same berries.

2)     Another legend say it was Sheikh al-Shadhili's disciple by the name Omar. At one time, Omar was expelled to the desert caves around Ousab without any food. One day Omar decided to chew some strange berries, but they were very bitter to him. He then roasts them to get rid of the bitterness in the berries. However, after roasting, the berries became very hard to chew, so Omar decided to boil them, resulting in a brown, fragrant drink. When Omar drank the liquid, it sustained him for several days. When the story of him and the drink reached mocha, Omar was allowed back and made a saint.

3)     The third legend that talks about the invention of coffee by the Oromo people who were living in Ethiopia's kaffa region. These people realised that the beverage from the coffee seeds had an energising effect and they could trek for days without feeling hungry.  

4)     The last legend is the 9th-century legend that credits the Ethiopian Sufi goat herder named Kaldi with coffee discovery. The legend explains that Kaldi discovered coffee when he observed his goats getting excited after eating the coffee beans.

5)     French missionaries first brought coffee plants to China in the late 1800s, predominantly planting in Yunnan, the most southwestern province. China’s coffee growth didn’t cause much of a stir until the 90s when big companies, such as Nestlé and Starbucks, began investing.

Final Thoughts

As you have learnt, coffee is believed to originate from Ethiopia while other legends hold that coffee was first invented by Sufi Sheikh al-Shadhili of Morocco. Still another legend credits the ancestors of the Oromo people, and others hold that coffee was introduced to China by French missionaries. And don’t forget the legend that holds that Ethiopian Sufi goat herder by the name Kaldi was the one that invented coffee. No matter where coffee was invented,  be assured of the best coffee from the best in the world available in our store today!

 

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