Who would have thought that a berry that was discovered by a herd of goats
would be the single most important ingredient in the world's most popular
drink? Legend has it that back in 850AD, a goat herder noticed his herd was
full of energy and eating berries he had never noticed. Since the goats seemed
to have such a reaction, the herder decided to give it a try! The berries also
gave him a burst of energy and he began to feel very happy. Thus, the beginning
of the journey for what is now known as coffee!
Actually, the story of the goat herder isn't the only legend surrounding
this discovery. It is also said that an Arabian man was banished to the deserts
with his followers to die of starvation. His men became very desperate for nourishment
and before long, they were boiling and eating the product of an unknown tree.
The broth that was produced by this unknown substance saved the lives of the
men! In the nearest town, Mocha, many took their survival to be a religious
sign. Because of the discovery, the drink was then named Mocha.
No matter which story you gravitate to, the bottom line is the same: the berries
(actually, the seed of the berry) gave energy and zest to all that would consume
it! From it's earliest beginnings, coffee was thought of as a delicacy
and any recipes floating around were considered to be a closely guarded secret!
As time passed, the very first coffee trees were harvested around 1100, in
the Arabian Peninsula. The coffee drink became a staple of many early civilizations.
In the year 1453, There was a law in Turkey that said that a woman could divorce
her husband if he didn't supply her with a daily supply of coffee!
The very first known coffee shop was established in Constantinople around the
year of 1475 and since that initial introduction to the general public, coffee
has pretty much taken over the world! Between 1600-1700, there were many advancements,
including the world's first coffee house and the beginnings of commercial
production (made by the Dutch). By the middle 1700's, there were about
2000 coffee shops in Venice, alone!
The first prototype of an espresso
machine (made in Italy) was unveiled in the early 1800's. In the early
1900's, the first drip
coffee makers were invented, making the coffee making process a little less
daunting! Automatic
espresso machines began their journey in the 1930's.
By the late 1900's, coffee became the most popular beverage in the world!
The coffee is harvested in many countries, including: Africa, Ethiopia, Brazil,
North America, Italy and even Turkey. This kind of crop can also be easily grown
and exported by many third world countries, as well. Made to tempt even the
pickiest palate, coffee has evolved to include hundreds of flavors and varying
grades and prices.
