How Coffee Was Discovered

When your feet first touch the floor in the morning and you are making your way to the coffee pot. You aren’t thinking about where coffee came from or who discovered the magic stuff. But the origins of coffee are rather interesting. After you have finished your first cup, you might like to know how you ended up with a cup of coffee to get your day started. There are several versions of how coffee was first discovered.

One story is a sheep herder from Caffa Ethopia named Kaldi noticed that when his sheep ate red “cherries” from a certain plant, they became very active. The sheep would have been bouncing off the walls, had there been walls. The sheep herder decided to try the “cherries” himself and soon he was as hyper as his herd of sheep. A monk came along and scolded Kaldi for “partaking of the devil’s fruit.” Then the monks discovered that the red “cherries” helped them to stay awake while they were saying prayers.

This isn’t the only story about the origin of coffee, though. There is another story about an Arabian, Omar, who was banished to the desert along with his followers to “die from starvation.” There was nothing to eat in the desert, and Omar and his followers were sure to die. Then, in an act of desperation, Omar ordered his followers to boil the fruit from an unknown plant and eat it. The fruit and the broth saved their lives and considered a miracle from God. The residents of the nearest town, Mocha, were amazed at the miracle. The plant and the beverage was then named Mocha to honor this miracle.

Take your pick, both stories are great. Originally the coffee plant grew in Ethiopia (Ethopia). It was then transplanted to Arabia and claimed by them.

Other helpful articles – Different Types of Coffee Methods Explained and How to Find Your Favorite Coffee.