Origins of coffee

The coffee plant belongs to the Rubiaceae family and from its roasted and then ground seeds comes the best known and loved drink in the world.The origins of coffee start from its name which derives from the word QAHWA which in Arabic defines all vegetable-type drinks. Coffee loosely translated to mean, “wine of the bean”.

There are several stories and legends relating to the ancient origins of coffee that have brought this drink, much loved and with great properties, up to the present day.

Legends and stories about the origins of coffee

Origins of coffee in the Bible

It is even said that the Archangel Gabriel made the Prophet Mohammed drink coffee to cure him, thus using the beneficial properties of the drink.

The origins of coffee in Ethiopia

Ethiopian monks in 850 AD discovered coffee thanks to their goats that ate the berries of this precious plant.They thought of picking the berries and making a decoction, drinking it they realized the exciting and invigorating properties of coffee which helped them stay awake all night for their prayers.

Coffee in Arabia

Coffee from Ethiopia arrived in Arabia and then spread throughout the Mediterranean. It was a great success, all the peoples of the Mediterranean adopted the useful tools for preparing coffee. Even testimonies have been found that tell of the success of the diffusion of coffee in those places, in fact there are sculptures on the tombs of the Bedouins that tell scenes of daily life in which there are also the tools for preparing coffee.

The origins of coffee in Constantinople

The first coffee shop was born in Constantinople, while in Europe coffee arrived after many years and only after cocoa and tea.

The origins of coffee in Europe

The first coffee house was built in 1683 in Vienna following the end of the Turkish siege. After Napoleon's continental blockade, coffee also spread to western Europe.

Religious problems with the origins of coffee

Coffee was considered by the priests the devil's drink due to its exciting and energetic effects and for this reason Pope Clement VIII was asked to ban it in order to prevent its diffusion.

However, it seems that the Pope, before issuing the ban, tasted it and being conquered by the taste, he decided to rename it as a Christian drink.

Coffee also found its origins in Italy, where Venice was the first city to set up public spaces where you could enjoy coffee.

When people began to consider the economic power of this drink it led to the creation of the first coffee shops. This is how coffee became known as a social drink, which is still recognized for today.