Collection: Coffee beans

Cultivated around the world, the heritage of coffee goes back centuries to the ancient coffee forests of the Ethiopian plateau. Legend has it that it was in Ethiopia that shepherd Kaldi first thought of trying coffee. It is said that Kaldi noticed that after eating the berries of a certain tree, his goats became so energetic that they did not sleep even at night. The shepherd reported his findings to the abbot of the local monastery, who made a drink from the berries and found that it helped him stay awake during the long hours of evening prayer. The abbot shared his discovery with the other monks of the monastery, and word of the energizing berries began to spread rapidly. As word moved east and coffee reached the Arabian Peninsula, it began its journey around the world.

Source: National Coffee Association, USA.

Commercial coffee cultivation and trade began in the Arabian Peninsula. By the 15th century, coffee was cultivated in the Arabian region of Yemen, and by the 16th century it was known in Persia, Egypt, Syria and Turkey. Coffee was not only enjoyed at home, but also in the many public coffeehouses called qahveh khaneh that began to appear in the cities of the Middle East. The popularity of cafes was unparalleled and people visited them for a variety of social activities. People not only drank coffee and socialized, but also listened to music, watched performers, played chess and simply shared news. Coffeehouses quickly became such an important center for the exchange of information that they were often called "Schools of the Wise."

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With thousands of pilgrims visiting the holy city of Mecca from all over the world every year, word of this "Arabian wine" began to spread rapidly.

Source: National Coffee Association, USA.

That's how European travelers brought back stories about an unusual dark drink. By the 17th century, coffee had become popular throughout the continent. However, some people reacted to this new drink with suspicion or fear, calling it "the bitter invention of Satan". Local clergy condemned coffee when it came to Venice in 1615. The controversy was so great that Pope Clement VIII was asked to intervene. Before making up his mind, he decided to taste the drink himself, which he liked so much that he gave the coffee the Pope's approval.

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Despite the controversy, coffeehouses quickly became centers of social activity and interaction in the major cities of England, Austria, France, Germany, and Holland. In England, "penny universities" appeared, so called because for just a penny you could buy a cup of coffee and engage in an engaging conversation. By the mid-17th century, there were more than 300 coffeehouses in London, many of which attracted like-minded people including merchants, shippers, brokers and artists.

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Interestingly, coffee began to replace the usual breakfast drinks of the time - beer and wine. Those who drank coffee instead of alcohol started the day refreshed and energetic, and not surprisingly, the quality of their work improved significantly.

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Source: National Coffee Association, USA.