History of Coffee: Timeline of the Main Events

Text of All Events

• Legendary Discovery by Kaldi (850): According to legend, Kaldi, an Ethiopian goatherder, noticed his goats becoming unusually energetic after eating red berries from a bush. Curious, he tried the berries himself and felt a sense of exhilaration. He shared them with a nearby monastery, where a monk threw them into the fire, releasing an enticing aroma. The monks then raked the roasted beans, ground them, and mixed them with hot water to create the first cup of coffee. This story, though likely apocryphal and first recorded in 1671, symbolizes coffee's origins in Ethiopia's Kaffa region. It highlights the stimulating effects that would make coffee famous worldwide. The legend has been retold to explain how humans first encountered coffee's properties. It underscores Ethiopia's role as the birthplace of coffee.
• Arab Traders Domesticate Coffee (1000): Arab traders brought coffee beans back from Ethiopia and began cultivating the plant in Yemen. They boiled the berries to create a beverage called qahwa, marking the start of coffee as a drink. This domestication turned coffee into a traded commodity in the Arabian Peninsula. Cultivation in Yemen's suitable climate allowed for wider distribution. Coffee gained popularity in Islamic societies for its energizing effects. It was integrated into daily and religious life. This era laid the foundation for coffee's global spread. The process involved roasting and brewing techniques still used today.
• Coffee Known in Mecca (1414): By 1414, coffee was known in Mecca, primarily used by Sufi Muslims to aid concentration during nighttime prayers. The beverage helped them stay alert for chanting and devotions. This marked coffee's association with spiritual practices in Islam. Sufi monasteries in Yemen were key in promoting its use. Coffee spread through religious networks across the region. Its stimulating properties were valued for enhancing focus. Locations like Mecca became hubs for coffee consumption. This period integrated coffee into cultural and religious rituals.
• Sheikh al-Dhabhani Adopts Coffee in Aden (1454): Sheikh Jamal-al-Din al-Dhabhani, mufti of Aden, adopted coffee, recognizing its ability to combat fatigue and bring vigor. He was the first documented to endorse it widely in Yemen. This adoption influenced religious and social acceptance. Documented in later historical works, his influence spread coffee to Mecca and Medina. Coffee became a staple in local culture. His role highlighted coffee's medicinal benefits. The event contributed to commercial export. Despite his death in 1470, coffee's popularity continued to grow.
• First Coffee Shop Kiva Han Opens in Constantinople (1475): The world's first coffee shop, Kiva Han, opened in Constantinople, serving as a social hub. It allowed people to gather, discuss, and enjoy coffee. This marked the beginning of coffeehouses as public spaces. Ottoman Turks had brought coffee to the city in 1453. The shop's success led to more establishments. Coffeehouses became centers for intellectual exchange. They influenced social life in the Ottoman Empire. This event set a precedent for global coffee culture.
• Coffee Banned in Mecca (1511): Khair Beg, governor of Mecca, banned coffee fearing it sparked rebellion in coffeehouses. He saw it as disruptive to social order. The ban was issued after a theological council. However, the sultan proclaimed coffee sacred and executed Beg. This reflected early controversies over coffee's effects. The ban was short-lived, overturned in 1524. It highlighted tensions between authority and public habits. Coffee's popularity endured despite restrictions.
• Coffee Ban Overturned by Ottoman Sultan (1524): Ottoman Sultan Suleiman I overturned the Mecca ban, with a fatwa declaring coffee halal. This allowed legal consumption across the empire. The decision aligned with growing acceptance in Sufi practices. It facilitated coffeehouse expansion in cities like Constantinople. The fatwa shifted views on coffee's benefits. This event integrated coffee into Ottoman culture. It influenced spread to other regions. Legal endorsement boosted trade.
• First Coffee Houses in Constantinople (1554): The first official coffeehouses opened in Constantinople, becoming social and intellectual centers. They attracted diverse groups for discussions and leisure. Influenced by Sufi use, they enhanced communal life. Coffeehouses spread to Cairo and Damascus. They shaped urban culture in the Ottoman Empire. This development transformed coffee from religious aid to social beverage. Visitors included traders and scholars. The event marked coffee's cultural evolution.
• First European Mention by Charles de l'Ecluse (1575): Charles de l'Ecluse mentioned coffee in a European text, learning from Alphoncius Pansius in Padua. This introduced coffee to Western scholarship. The description noted its properties and origins. It paved the way for European interest. Coffee was seen as a medicinal plant. This publication spread knowledge beyond traders. It contributed to coffee's introduction in Europe. The text was part of a larger work on exotic plants.
• Abd al-Qadir al-Jaziri Compiles Work on Coffee (1587): Abd al-Qadir al-Jaziri compiled 'Umdat al Safwa fi hill al-qahwa', tracing coffee's history and controversies. The work documented spread from Yemen to major cities. It discussed legal debates in Islamic society. Al-Jaziri highlighted Sheikh al-Dhabhani's role. A copy reached France, influencing European knowledge. The manuscript provided historical insights. It emphasized coffee's cultural significance. This compilation preserved early coffee lore.
• Prospero Alpini Publishes Description in Europe (1591): Venetian botanist Prospero Alpini published the first European description of the coffee plant. Introduced via Mediterranean trade, it charged high prices. Coffee became a luxury for the wealthy. This publication educated Europeans on coffee. It sparked interest in importation. Alpini's work was based on observations. It contributed to coffee's mainland spread. The description included botanical details.
• Coffee Introduced to Venice (1600): Italian traders brought coffee to Venice, spreading it in the West. Pope Clement VIII's advisers urged a ban as an infidel threat. After tasting, the Pope baptized it, declaring it acceptable. This endorsement facilitated European acceptance. Venice became a key entry point. Coffee was initially exotic and expensive. It led to coffee-drinking among the elite. The event marked coffee's Christian approval.
• First Coffeehouse in England (1652): The first coffeehouse opened in England, in Oxford, followed by many in London. They served as social hubs for men to discuss business and news. Coffee replaced tea in popularity. This reflected growing European adoption. Coffeehouses were called 'penny universities' for knowledge exchange. They influenced intellectual life. The event boosted coffee consumption. It set a model for British coffee culture.
• Edward Lloyd Opens Coffeehouse (1668): Edward Lloyd opened a coffeehouse in England, frequented by merchants and insurers. It evolved into Lloyd's of London insurance company. This showed coffeehouses' role in business. The venue facilitated maritime deals. Coffee stimulated discussions. The transformation highlighted economic impact. It became world-famous. This event linked coffee to finance.
• First Coffeehouse in Vienna (1683): Franz Georg Kolschitzky opened Vienna's first coffeehouse using Turkish coffee spoils after the siege. He had lived in Turkey and knew preparation methods. This introduced coffee to Central Europe. The cafe became popular among intellectuals. It marked post-siege cultural exchange. Coffee was adapted with milk and sugar. The event established Viennese coffee tradition. It spread to other Austrian cities.
• Dutch Smuggle and Cultivate Coffee in Java (1690): The Dutch smuggled a coffee plant from Mocha and cultivated it commercially in Java. This broke Arab monopoly on coffee production. Plantations expanded in Dutch colonies. It led to global cultivation shifts. Coffee became cheaper and more accessible. The event initiated European colonial production. Java became synonymous with coffee. This marked economic expansion.
• Gabriel de Clieu Brings Coffee to Martinique (1720): Gabriel de Clieu brought coffee seedlings to Martinique, one of the earliest New World cultivations. Despite hardships, a plant survived and proliferated. This introduced coffee to the Americas. Plantations spread to Caribbean islands. It boosted colonial economies. De Clieu's effort was heroic. The event diversified global production. It led to Latin American dominance.
• Coffee Introduced to Brazil (1727): Lieutenant Colonel Francisco de Melo Palheta smuggled coffee seeds to Brazil hidden in a bouquet. This started Brazilian coffee industry. Plantations grew rapidly due to suitable climate. Brazil became a major producer. It transformed the economy. The smuggling bypassed restrictions. Coffee became Brazil's key export. This event shifted global supply.
• Boston Tea Party Boosts Coffee in America (1773): After the Boston Tea Party, drinking coffee became patriotic in America, rejecting British tea. The revolt against tea tax shifted preferences. Coffee imports increased. It symbolized independence. Colonists embraced coffee as alternative. The event influenced beverage habits. Coffeehouses grew in colonies. This marked American coffee culture.
• Coffee Leaf Rust in Ceylon (1871): Coffee leaf rust disease devastated plantations in Ceylon (Sri Lanka). It ruined most Asian coffee crops over a decade. Planters shifted to tea. This ended major Asian production. The fungus spread globally later. It impacted economies. Research led to resistant varieties. The event reshaped coffee geography.
• Instant Coffee Invented by Satori Kato (1901): Japanese-American chemist Satori Kato invented soluble instant coffee in Chicago. Presented at Pan-American Exposition. This made coffee convenient. It led to mass production. Soldiers used it in wars. The invention changed consumption. Kato's process was foundational. Instant coffee grew popular worldwide.
• Nestle Invents Nescafe (1938): Nestle developed freeze-dried coffee, Nescafe, to handle Brazilian surpluses. This preserved flavor better. It became a global brand. Convenient for home use. Sales soared during WWII. The method advanced instant coffee. Nestle's innovation dominated market. It expanded coffee accessibility.
• US Imports 70% of World Coffee (1940): The US imported 70% of global coffee crop, reflecting high demand. Rationing occurred during WWII. Instant coffee was in soldier rations. This boosted industry. Post-war consumption grew. The statistic showed America's role. It influenced trade. Coffee became staple beverage.