Coffee Origin - High Level Summary

Coffee has a long and storied history that spans centuries and continents. The origins of coffee can be traced back to the ancient kingdoms of Ethiopia, where legend has it that a goat herder named Kaldi discovered the energizing properties of the coffee plant after noticing his goats becoming unusually frisky after eating the plant's berries. From Ethiopia, the use of coffee spread to the Arabian Peninsula, where it quickly became an integral part of the culture and religion. By the 15th century, coffee was being grown in Yemen and traded throughout the Middle East.

The popularity of coffee then spread to Europe, with the first coffee houses opening in Venice in the early 1600s. These coffee houses quickly became popular gathering places for intellectuals, artists, and politicians, and played an important role in the cultural and political life of the time. The British East India Company began importing coffee to England in the late 1600s, and by the 18th century, coffee had become one of the most important commodities traded around the world.

In the 19th century, coffee production spread to the Americas, with Brazil becoming the world's largest producer of coffee. Today, coffee is grown in countries all over the world, from Africa to Asia to South America, and it is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world. With the rise of specialty coffee, there is now a renewed interest in the history, culture, and art of coffee, and it continues to be enjoyed by people from all walks of life.