Take a Break for Coffee

by Gail Mihalik

In this 3 part series, Gail Mihalik shares the history of coffee and why most Americans are obsessed with this beautiful brown elixir.

What is this obsession with this caffeine elixir (coffee)? Many people’s mission is to find the best brew at an eclectic coffee shop. But this is not a new trend; it began over five hundred years ago. Nobody has carved the history of coffee in stone, but the beginning of its time goes back to the Ethiopian plateau. Our coffee origin credit goes to goats, yes, goats.

In the early 15th century, a goat herder noticed that his goats were frolicking enthusiastically, even into the evening when it was time to settle down. The next day, he followed the goats to the field and saw them eating berries from a particular bush. His curiosity got the best of him, so he picked a handful of the berries and brought them to the Abbot of the local monastery. The Abbot was not intrigued by the goat herders’ find. Instead, he claimed, “those red berries are the curse of the devil,” and immediately threw the berries into the fire.

That should have been the end of the story, but then the room started to fill with a strong aroma, which caught the attention of the Abbot. The berries were roasting; once the fire calmed, the monks gathered and pulled them from the fire, ground them up, and put them into hot water as if they were making tea. The monks claimed that they were invigorated with this elixir and could spend long hours in evening prayers without the need to rest. This super berry was energizing Ethiopians, and it ended up as a beverage spreading rapidly throughout the lands.

As time went on, more and more countries were experiencing this dark “wine” elixir. By the 15th century, the district of Arabia, called Yemeni, was growing coffee for its intoxicating effects. By the 16th century, the expanse of coffee was growing to Peria, Egypt, Turkey, and Syria. The emergence of coffee houses was on the rise.

By the 17th century, the stories of the unique dark black beverage had come to Europe from travelers from the Near East. Although this mysterious dark beverage was gaining popularity, people were still suspicious of this “bitter invention of Satan.” When coffee hit the streets of Venice in the early 1600s, the clergy did not accept its presence. There was so much controversy that the ministry summoned Pope Clement VIII for consultation. He tasted the dark brew, found it very satisfying, and gave it the Papal Approval.

As we know them now, coffee houses were called “Penny Universities.” The name derived from the price of a cup of coffee: one cent bought you one cup of coffee.

Most were eager to join the coffee parade sweeping across the lands. These coffee spots, which were opening in major cities of many countries like France, Germany, England, Holland, and Austria, were not just places to grab coffee. They were vibrant hubs of social and business activity, where people would gather to exchange conversation, play games, listen to music, and even watch performers. By the mid-1600s, London alone had almost 300 such shops, each a bustling center of attention for merchants, artists, and like-minded business people. Many businesses found their birthing place in these shops. To name one coffee shop in particular, “Edward Lloyd's Coffee House,” was the beginning of Lloyd's of London.

Before coffee became the morning beverage, people typically started their day with beer or wine. However, those who switched to coffee found themselves more alert, energized, and notably more productive during the day, marking a significant shift in societal habits.

New Amsterdam (now named New York) welcomed coffee during the 1600s. Many coffee houses appeared, but tea was still the front-runner for many. It wasn’t until the Boston Tea Party in 1773 that people revolted against the heavy tax on tea. This revolt helped shape the choice of coffee over tea. To quote Thomas Jefferson, “Coffee is the favorite drink of the civilized world.”

As the demand for coffee grew, many countries were trying their hand and the production of that beautiful bean. The Dutch were one of the first. After a few failed attempts their success was in the Island of Java, what we call Indonesia now. They also cultivated on the islands of Celebes and Sumatra.

Coffee beans are like a fine wine. You must have the perfect tropical climate, the trees must be grown in high altitudes with both wet and dry seasons, also needing a very rich soil. Not only is the region important, but how the beans are harvested and processed after being picked. All of these factors can dramatically change the flavor of each crop within a single season.

Take another coffee break in the next issue and read what it takes for the creation of coffee, “𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐮𝐩, ” and find out what coffee shop will be highlighted.