If you know that Ethiopia is the origin of Arabica coffee, you don’t know the full story yet. The story began in the 9th century, a legend says that a goat herder named Kaldi was the first to discover coffee in Ethiopia.
Who is Kaldi
An Ethiopian goat herder who lived with his family named Kaldi, noticed the goats in his herd prancing and behaving strangely. After excessive observation, he noticed that the goats were eating red berries from an unknown tree which then caused them to become very energetic. Kaldi then decided to try the berries himself to understand the reason behind their energy. When he tried the berries he felt so energetic and alert and could relate to their behavior when eating the same berries.
The discovery
Later on, Kaldi told a monk about his discovery who was encouraged to try some. The monk came up with the idea of drying and boiling the berries after he tried it and found that it kept him alert. He then advised the other monks with the idea and they all loved the drink because it helped them to stay awake during their evening prayers. The discovery became very popular until it spread from Ethiopia to Red Sea countries.
How coffee spread
Over the centuries, coffee became one of the everyday essentials and Arab traders used it in their trades, taking it back to their homes and planting it in their farms to enjoy the aroma pleasures and the awakening properties.
