How Did Coffee get so Good?
From a simple stimulating beverage to a morning necessity, we are examining the legend that is the cup of coffee
Drive down any street in The United States and you are likely to find an espresso stand on the side of the road or conveniently located in a nearby parking lot. Americans don’t just love their coffee in the morning, they need it. Desperately.
From Ethiopia to the rest of the world, coffee is full of rich history and cultural traditions. This necessary liquid is one of the most popular and widely consumed beverages in the world. An estimated 2.25 billion cups of coffee are consumed every single day. But how did this stimulating aromatic libation come to be?
Today we are going to jump into the origins of coffee as a crop, as well as a commodity, and a culture. In this article, we will explore the rich history of coffee, from its ancient roots in Ethiopia to its global impact today.
The origins of coffee are mysterious and legendary to say the least, with most experts agreeing that coffee originated in the sacred hills of one of the cradles of civilization known only as Ethiopia, where wild coffee plants still grow there to this day.
As legend has it there are several accounts as to how coffee became a favored beverage.
One such legend states that in the 9th century, an Ethiopian goat herder named Kaldi in the kingdom of Kaffa was observing his herd of goats nibbling on some red berries that were growing on a nearby bush. Noticing that his goats had become more lively after consuming the berries he to decided to take a nibble for himself where he quickly noticed its stimulating effects.
Kaldi rushed to the nearest monastery to tell the monks about his energizing discovery, but much to his despondency these hyper-religious monks disapproved of his use of this incredible plant. Sounds familiar doesn’t it?
These monks hastily threw these berries into the fire for quick disposal and unbeknownst to them, the berries gave off a hypnotic and enticing aroma. This beautiful scent caused the other monks to come to investigate to see where this aroma was coming from. These were the world’s first roasted coffee beans and as the legend goes Kaldi and the monks quickly raked the roasted beans from the fire, ground them up, and dissolved them in a cup of hot water, and there you have it. The first ever cup of coffee.
This legend is a great story, but this may not be exactly true, and that’s ok. The possible falsehood of this story is incidental and has not stifled our love of this wonderous beverage.
Coffee has played a vital role in various cultures for thousands of years and it’s not about to go away any time soon. Sufi monasteries used coffee to aid concentration during prayers. Coffee helped its consumers fast during the daytime and stay awake at night during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the consumption of coffee spread far and wide across the European continent, where coffee was thought to aid in digestion, quicken the spirits, and cleanse the blood. Coffee houses began to spring up in Austria after the battle of Vienna, it was in these Viennese coffee houses that the use of milk and sugar became a standard in coffee consumption. Viennese coffee is served with hot frothy milk and is accompanied by a glass of water, give it to the Austrians to be the first to consider the importance of hydration.
In the year 1675, there were over 3,000 coffee houses in London alone, and here I thought that they had been drinking tea the whole time, I guess not. The English coffee house was a place to engage in rare sober discussions of deep religious and political ideology during the Enlightenment period.
It should be evident by now that where ever coffee showed up, so did people that were ready to consume it, but what makes coffee so enticing, what is the science behind coffee’s seductive aroma?
The bold scent of freshly brewed coffee is unmistakably tantalizing. This captivating fragrance grabs you by the olfactory senses and doesn’t let you go. This aroma is the result of hundreds of compounds working together in beautiful harmony. When roasted, coffee beans undergo the Maillard reaction, causing sugars and amino acids to combine and produce aromatic compounds. You can read more about the Maillard reaction in the article below.
Is Cooking Really That Simple?
Cooking methods throughout history have come a long way since the caveman was roasting a mammoth over an open fire. Today we have modern ovens, stoves, and other kitchen appliances to assist us in the kitchen yet the science behind cooking remains relatively the same, apply heat to a raw product until the desired temperature has been reached either for …
The brewing process releases even more aromatics, enhancing the overall sensory experience and contributing to the vast range of coffee flavors we encounter. These enchanting aromas and flavor profiles have set its consumers on a quest to find the best method for brewing the perfect cup.
From the simplicity of drip brewing to the intricate rituals of pour-over and espresso, each of these methods bring out different flavors and characteristics. Some coffee enthusiasts prefer the traditional French press, while others embrace cutting-edge technology with siphon brewing. Understanding the nuances of these methods allows coffee lovers to tailor their brew to personal preference. Personally, I think that the French press makes even the cheapest of coffees taste gourmet.
Many writers and artists alike have used coffee not only as a physical stimulant but also as a tool for productive creativity, in fact, I just had a cup of coffee myself and I can assure you that it is the only thing getting me through this afternoon. Coffee can be the catalyst for collaborative creative thinking.
Coffee has come a long way from its humble peasant beginnings to the most consumed beverage in the world, that is second to water of course. Coffee is a force of nature that has the power to unite us all. We get together with close friends and family over coffee. Coffee helps us to celebrate our wins and mourn our losses. It’s a warm hug from a close friend that wakes you up in the morning.
The next time you hold that cup in your hand, remember to savor each invigorating sip and appreciate the long and arduous journey that coffee has taken to get from a simple bean to your morning cup.
A good multifaceted perspective on coffee! I'm not sure when coffee became vital in my life but everyone who knows me is fully aware of it. I consider coffee to be almost a "right of passage ".
This is a very meta read for me as I sip my 3rd cup of coffee this morning!
"An estimated 2.25 billion cups of coffee are consumed every single day."
I am responsible for a relatively high percentage of that.
Also interestingly (you touched on this), I think coffee ultimately led to UK supremacy. As you mentioned, it was a rare group of sober folks gathering to brainstorm. Adam Smith and other revolutionary thinkers were certainly beneficiaries of this environment.