Many of our readers surely cannot imagine a morning, meeting with friends, or a moment of relaxation without an exceptional, aromatic beverage that is undoubtedly coffee, known for its stimulating properties.
It is currently available both in online stores and their brick-and-mortar counterparts in hundreds, if not thousands, of varieties and options. However, instead of discussing each in detail, we decided to delve into the history of this beverage and explore how its origins are presented in human history.
The history of coffee creation - myth or truth?
One of the earliest recorded legends, which likely contains a grain of truth and tells about the 'black gold' from the 9th century involving an Ethiopian shepherd, describes how he noticed that the animals, which preferred the fruits of a certain local plant, became much more alert and energetic throughout the day compared to other herd members.
Curious, the shepherd decided to solve this mystery by seeking advice from someone he considered wiser and more experienced—namely, a local monk. The monk advised him to gather both the leaves and fruits of the plant, which later turned out to be coffee, and then brew a decoction from them. However, the resulting beverage was very bitter and unpleasant to taste. The monk deemed it not only unfit for human consumption but also declared it probably the work of the devil, and then poured it out.
And so the legend ends… but how does it compare to the actual facts?
Historical accounts suggest that the cradle of the coffee we know today can be considered Yemen and Arabia, where the beans with their distinctive flavor arrived with African slaves and gradually gained favor among the local population.
Initially, the beverage was prepared both from the leaves and fruits of the coffee plant. It was only later that people learned to brew coffee in the way we are familiar with today, as well as to enhance its flavor and aroma by adding sweeteners such as natural honey. As brewing techniques improved, coffee became tastier, which directly led to increased interest in its regular consumption—whether at home or in social venues like bars and taverns, which gradually evolved into modern cafés. News about the stimulating properties of this seemingly modest drink also spread widely.
The story described in today’s article further emphasizes its uniqueness and shows that it is highly likely that entirely by chance, coffee beans were discovered, without which we cannot imagine daily life… or find it significantly more difficult!
