Hey Coffee lovers! We all know we can’t get through a day without our coffee fix. But have you ever wondered where does the word coffee come from?
Hah! Don’t overthink, and Let’s hop in a time machine and travel the globe to discover the origins of this cherished word.
A Long Journey of Coffee: History And The Origin
The term “coffee” in English originated from the Dutch word “koffie,” which was borrowed from the Ottoman Turkish word “kahve,”. It derived from the Arabic word “qahwa” (قهوة).
In Turkey, it was known as “kahve,” and in Italy, it became “caffe.” Eventually, the term made its way into the English language as the “coffee” we are familiar with today.
The Journey of The Word Doesn’t End Here: The Ethiopian Connection
The history of coffee dates back centuries in Ethiopia and Yemen. One popular idea suggests that “coffee” was introduced in “Kaffa” a region in Ethiopia. It’s a place of lush greenery where coffee plants flourish in the wild.
Legend has it that a goat herder named Kaldi stumbled upon the invigorating properties of the coffee cherry.
His goats, after feasting on the red fruit, were filled with an unusual energy, prompting Kaldi to taste them himself.
The Wine Connection
Another theory posits that “qahwah” was initially used for wine. In historical contexts, the word referred to a stimulating beverage, and it’s easy to see how this could also apply to coffee.
Over time, as coffee became more popular, especially in regions where alcohol was prohibited for religious reasons, “qahwah” shifted from meaning wine to describing the refreshing coffee drink.
The Journey Begins
The origin of the word and its journey begins in the ancient coffee forests on the Ethiopian plateau, where it is believed the magical bean was first discovered.
The 15th Century
It was already known in Mecca in the 15th century. Sufi monasteries in Yemen employed coffee as an aid to concentration during prayers.
Coffee cultivation and trade began on the Arabian Peninsula. It was being grown in the Yemeni district of Arabia and by the 16th century it was known in Persia, Egypt, Syria, and Turkey.
Fact: It’s said that coffee was first roasted in Turkey.
The End of 16th Century
Some people say that in the late 1600s, a few Turkish traders showed up in Venice and introduced Italians to the joys of coffee, and then people started drinking coffee there.
This delicious drink has since become a beloved symbol of Italian culture and tradition.
The 16th And 17th Century
Coffee century later spread to the Levant in the early 16th century; it caused some controversy on whether it was halal in Ottoman and Mamluk society.
Coffee arrived in Italy in the second half of the 16th century through commercial Mediterranean trade routes.
Coffee Houses In Western Europe In 17th Century
Coffee houses were established in Western Europe by the late 17th century, especially in Holland, England, and Germany.
One of the earliest coffee cultivation in the New World was when Gabriel de Clieu brought coffee seedlings to Martinique in 1720.
The Mid of 17th Century
These beans later sprouted 18,680 coffee trees, which enabled their spread to other Caribbean islands such as Saint-Domingue and Mexico.
The Dutch finally got seedlings in the latter half of the 17th century. Their first attempts to plant them in India failed, but they were successful with their efforts in Batavia, on the island of Java in what is now Indonesia.
The 18th And 19th Century: The World’s Largest Producers of Coffee
By 1852, Brazil had become the world’s largest producer of coffee and has held that status ever since.
Missionaries and travelers, traders continued to carry coffee seeds to new lands, and coffee trees were planted in colonies, cities and worldwide during 19th century.
Today, coffee is one of the world’s most popular beverages, with a significant cultural and economic impact globally.
So, This is How Coffee Traveled To Reach You
Each place coffee touched added its unique flavor to the story. From Ottoman prisoners brewing it in Malta to Venetian merchants trading beans, coffee’s journey is as rich and diverse as its taste.
The next time you take a sip of your morning coffee, remember the incredible global journey of the coffee!