The history of coffee is a lengthy and fascinating journey. This beverage, known for its distinctive aroma and deep black-brown hue, has garnered immense popularity, as evidenced by the proliferation of coffee shops throughout Indonesia. It’s a common sight to see coffee shops lining the streets.
Coffee, that sweet and aromatic black elixir, has won the hearts of diverse groups, from the youth to the elderly. It’s intriguing to note that this beloved beverage was once forbidden worldwide. Curious, isn’t it? Let’s dive into the captivating tales from coffee’s history that bear witness to its rise to prominence.
There is an interesting story about the history of coffee
Legend has it that King Gustaff II (1594-1632) of Sweden sentenced his twin brothers to death, accusing them of crimes. To determine their guilt, the king devised a unique and peculiar rule.
One brother was permitted to consume only coffee for the rest of his life, while the other could only drink tea. The first one to pass away would be declared guilty. As fate would have it, the 83-year-old tea-drinking brother was the first to depart this world, belatedly declared guilty. This incident fueled an obsession with coffee in Sweden and the Scandinavian countries, as it was believed that coffee prolonged life.
The story of King Gustaff II and his coffee-drinking rule is just one of the many captivating anecdotes that enrich the tapestry of coffee’s journey. In various places and nations, coffee legends and stories, though sometimes blurred between myth and history, abound.
The early history of coffee in the world
The origins of coffee can be traced back to around the 3rd century when a goat herder in Ethiopia named Kaldi made a remarkable discovery. Kaldi, known for his diligent care of his goats, noticed one day that his goats were behaving unusually – they were leaping and frolicking with excitement, as if intoxicated.
Intrigued, Kaldi investigated the cause of this “excitement” and was drawn to a cluster of vibrant red seeds lying amidst the bushes, which his goats had consumed. Driven by curiosity, Kaldi tasted the red beans, which turned out to be coffee beans. Astonishingly, he was soon dancing joyously, mirroring the goats’ behavior.
At that moment, a passerby named Aucuba, feeling weary, hungry, and drowsy, encountered Kaldi and his jubilant goats. Seeing this peculiar sight, Aucuba decided to try the same red seeds. Immediately, he felt invigorated, his energy restored, and his fatigue vanished, ready to resume his journey.
Aucuba brought some of these red seeds to the town and incorporated them into various foods. He also introduced the red seeds as an elixir to monks to keep them awake during their prayers. Aucuba’s efforts led to the widespread use of these miraculous red seeds in other towns and monasteries, ultimately making him a prosperous man. Meanwhile, the tale of Kaldi and his goats remained relatively unknown.
Coffee is the world’s forbidden drink
Despite many legends, myths and claims by various parties, history records that commercial coffee cultivation was first practiced in Arabia in the 15th century. For a long time, trade in such a high-class commodity was closely monitored, with Arab farmers going to great lengths to prevent other countries from obtaining their precious coffee beans. Over time, the coffee beans and plant fragments spread to the Aden area, Egypt, Syria, as well as Turkey where it became known as “Arabic wine”.
From the Muslim world, coffee spread to Europe, where it became popular in the 17th century. The Dutch were the first to import coffee on a large scale into Europe and at one time smuggled it in, as in 1690 these beans were not allowed to leave Arab territory. After that, it was on to the planting of coffee in Java by the Dutch.
Coffee drinks spread quickly in Europe
Although Italians have known coffee since the 10th century, the opening of the first coffee shop, Botega Delcafe in Italy, didn’t happen until 1645. This café became a gathering place for the smartest people in the land of pizza. In the City of London, the first coffee house opened in George Yard on Lombat Street and in Paris, the coffee house opened in 1671 at the Saint Germain Fair.
In the 18th century, missionaries, traders and settlers introduced coffee to Central and South America. Its natural environment proved to be an ideal place to grow coffee, allowing it to grow and spread quickly in the area.
Meanwhile in the United States, coffee has become the national drink in the United States and a staple at the breakfast table. When coffee arrived in the American colonies, it was initially not as successful as in Europe because it was considered less suitable as a substitute for alcohol. However, during the War of Independence, the demand for coffee continued to increase so merchants raised prices dramatically, partly due to the reduced supply of tea by British merchants.
Coffee’s journey to becoming the world’s most popular beverage was not a smooth one
There was a time when coffee was a “forbidden” product. In 1511, due to its stimulant effects, its use was banned by conservatives and orthodox at religious assemblies in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. However, due to the popularity of the drink, the ban was lifted in 1524 by order of Sultan Selim I of the Ottoman Empire of Turkey. In Cairo, Egypt, a similar ban was also passed in 1532, where coffee shops and coffee warehouses were closed.
A century later, in 1656, the rulers of the Ottoman Empire banned the opening of coffee shops. Not only does it prohibit drinking coffee, but it also punishes people who drink coffee with flogging on the first offense. However, years later, the laws against drinking coffee in the Middle East are slowly fading away. If a husband forbids his wife from drinking coffee, she can use this reason to file for divorce.
In Italy, priests forbid their followers to drink coffee and claim that coffee drinks were introduced by Muslim sultans to replace wine. Not just banning, but also punishing coffee drinkers. The reason is that coffee is a “political commodity” for Muslims in an effort to change the popularity of wine, which has long been known and synonymous with Catholics.
Coffee bans are also in place in Russia, although they are more “discriminatory” and protect the prestige of the coffee aristocracy. However, since it was considered a prestigious drink, Frederick the Great of Russia in 1777 only allowed the upper class or nobility to show their aristocracy by drinking coffee.
Read also: Coffee Story: Exploring How the Word “Coffee” Was Invented
Well, there you have it, some interesting stories about the history of coffee, from the strange rules of the king, the findings of a goat herder, to coffee becoming the world’s forbidden drink.
Apparently, the journey of coffee to become the most popular drink today is not smooth, but the story above greatly colors the history of coffee itself.
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