The Discovery of the Coffee Bean

Origin and Discovery in Ethiopia Test

According to legend, the story of coffee began with its discovery in "Kaffa," a region in present-day Ethiopia. As recorded in a tale from 1671, coffee was discovered in the 9th century by a shepherd named Kaldi. While wandering with his goats, he noticed that the animals became unusually lively and energetic after eating from a bush with dark green leaves and yellow to red berries.

Curiosity led Kaldi to take the stimulating “magic berries” to a nearby monastery to have the clergy explain their effects. Considered a devilish temptation, the monks threw the fruits into the fire. However, the beguiling aroma of the roasted coffee eventually moved them to rescue the beans from the fire and prepare the world's first coffee.

Early on in Kaffa, the raw coffee cherries were eaten directly, or a tough paste made from the depulped beans and animal fat was produced. In Ethiopia, coffee is still called "buna" today. The name “coffee” is thought to originate from the Arabic ‘qahwa’ (wine/drink) or “kachve” (energizing). The name “Kaveh,” still used in Turkey today, also derives from Arabic.

Reinvention in Arabia

Around the year 1000, Arabs began roasting, grinding, and boiling the beans with water for the first time. The first commercial coffee plantation was established in what is now Yemen.

Until the 11th century, different parts of the coffee plant were used in various ways: 

• Raw coffee cherries were eaten
• Green beans were cooked as a brew or
• were processed with animal fat into an edible paste

From its discovery in Africa to its refinement into espresso in Italy, coffee has a long and fascinating history.

Summary

The coffee bean originated in Ethiopia, spread throughout the world via Arabia, and eventually became the beverage we enjoy today. Countless legends and historical milestones make the story of coffee especially captivating.