Get to Know Three Important Figures in the History of Coffee Beans:
For some people, hearing the alarm goes hand in hand with drinking coffee since we are not really awake until we have had our morning coffee. Much like its rich taste, coffee comes with its very own rich history, dating back to the 11th century when it was first discovered. Throughout history, numerous people have one way or another influenced the way we drink our coffee today. So, let’s take you on a short ride to get to know three of these important figures that have influenced and enriched the history of coffee.
Kaldi, The Goat Herder
Well, if we are talking about history, then we have to start with Kaldi. Legend has it that it all started when Kaldi, a goat herder, found his goats eating strange beans that seemed to give them energy. It was said that he reported his findings to a monk who used the beans to prepare a drink, and the rest was history. Many debates over the first sighting of coffee since Kaldi did not appear till 1671, but we will never really be sure. In fact, some also date the discovery of coffee back to a Yemenite Sufi mystic, Ghothul Akbar Nooruddin Abu al-Hasan al-Shadhili, who claimed to have discovered coffee after witnessing some eating-berry birds being unusually energetic after eating unusual beans in his own village.
The Smugglers
The second figure on our list is none other than the smugglers. Yes. You read that correctly. The smugglers! Even though the coffee beans were discovered in Ethiopia, they flourished as a drink in the Middle East and the Arab world, where it was dubbed as “The Wine of Islam.” Therefore, the smugglers have helped spread the coffee beans all over the world. The first documented smuggler, Baba Budan, was an Indian pilgrim. He had brought back seeds of raw coffee beans from the port of Mocha in Yemen on his journey back from the Haj. Back in the day, to ensure that Yemen had a monopoly over coffee, it was only exported to other parts of the world in roasted or baked forms so that no one could grow their own plant. It was said that Baba Budan had managed to smuggle seven coffee beans wrapped in his garment! Upon his return, he had planted these beans on the slopes of the Chandragiri Hills. Today, you can still visit these slopes as coffee beans are still being grown there.
Americans
Statistically, Americans come in the first place in their consumption of coffee as they drink approximately 450 million cups a day, so it is safe to say Americans love their coffee. However, it almost never happened without the help of King George III. In 1767, he imposed heavy taxes on American tea imports, which caused riots, angering the public immensely. Therefore, the people took to drinking coffee as a form of protest. Ironically enough, it quickly became their choice of drink. Moreover, we cannot really mention Americans and not mention Starbucks! For the better part of the millennium, the Starbucks trademark has spread like wildfire. Named after a Moby-Dick character, the three creators, Jerry Baldwin, Zev Siegl and Gordon Bowker, an English teacher, a history teacher, and a writer, respectively, opened their first shop in Seattle, where the very first Starbucks shop opened its doors, selling only roasted coffee beans at first. But now, there are around 30,000 Starbucks around the world, offering numerous coffee drinks and beverages.
References:
- Bondarenko, Peter. “Starbucks”. Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 May. 2020, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Starbucks. Accessed 23 April 2021.
- Myhrvold, Nathan. “Coffee”. Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 Mar. 2021, https://www.britannica.com/topic/coffee. Accessed 23 April 2021.
