The Legends Behind Coffee’s Origins and Spread

You’ve heard there’s a legend behind coffee—but which one is true? And how did a mysterious berry from East Africa become the world’s most popular drink? If you’ve ever wondered how coffee went from a goatherd’s curiosity to a global staple, here’s the real story, straight from historical accounts and centuries-old tradition.

Coffee’s discovery is most famously linked to a 6th-century Ethiopian goatherd who noticed his goats became unusually energetic after eating red berries from a certain tree. After observing this himself and trying the fruit, a local monk found it helped him stay awake during prayers. This marked coffee’s first known use—as a stimulant, food, and eventual drink. That moment, around the year 600, is the widely accepted starting point of coffee’s journey.

The Shepherd’s Discovery: Coffee’s First Recorded Use

According to the most widely retold legend, around the year 600, a goatherd in Ethiopia observed his flock acting strangely energetic and vocal at night after eating berries from a specific tree. Concerned, he consulted a nearby monk, who studied the animals and tried the berries himself. He found they produced a stimulating effect. The monk called the fruit a “sacred item that banishes sleep and cleanses the spirit.” From then on, the beans were used for their energizing properties—as both a medicine and a drink.

From Ethiopia to the Muslim World: The Early Spread

By 1200, coffee had made its way out of Ethiopia, carried by a Muslim man exiled to Yemen. There, it spread along trade routes from the Red Sea to cities like Cairo and Athens. By 1300, it reached Iran, and around 1500, it arrived in Turkey. Each region adapted the drink, and coffee slowly transitioned from a spiritual aid to a widely enjoyed social beverage.

The First Coffeehouses and the Role of Religion

The very first establishments dedicated to selling coffee reportedly appeared in Mecca, the holiest city in Islam. Despite early religious controversy—some Christians in the 1600s called coffee “the devil’s drink” during the Renaissance—Pope Clement VIII reportedly tasted it and found it so delightful that he baptized it, effectively endorsing coffee for Christians. This helped coffee move beyond Islamic regions into broader Europe.

Coffee Arrives in Europe: The First Cafés

By the 17th century, coffee had entered major trade routes and began spreading across Italy, India, and England. The first known coffeehouse in Western Europe opened around 1650 in Oxford, England—a place that soon became famous for filling the air with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee. Earlier, around 1600, coffee had already made its way into Italy and other parts of Europe via merchant ships, slowly gaining popularity in public spaces.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who first discovered coffee and how?

According to legend, a 6th-century Ethiopian goatherd noticed his goats became hyperactive after eating red berries from a certain tree. He reported it to a local monk, who tried the berries and found they helped him stay awake during prayers. This event, around the year 600, is considered the first recorded discovery of coffee’s stimulating effects.

What did early monks use coffee for?

Early monks used coffee to help them stay awake during long hours of prayer and religious study. The energizing effect of the beans made it a useful tool for maintaining alertness, and it was initially treated as a kind of sacred or medicinal substance.

How did coffee spread from Ethiopia to the rest of the world?

Coffee spread from Ethiopia to Yemen around 1200 by a Muslim man exiled there. From Yemen, it moved along trade routes to Egypt, Arabia, and surrounding regions. By 1300 it had reached Iran, and around 1500 it came to Turkey. Eventually, it entered Europe through trade and colonial routes in the 1600s.

Why was coffee controversial in Europe at first?

In the 1600s, some Christians viewed coffee as a “devil’s drink” or “the drink of infidels,” stemming from its origins in Muslim lands. Religious leaders debated banning it, but after Pope Clement VIII tried coffee and endorsed it, it gained acceptance among Christians and spread more widely across Europe.

Where was the first European coffeehouse opened?

The first known coffeehouse in Western Europe opened in Oxford, England, around 1650. It became a well-known spot where people gathered to enjoy the aromatic drink. Earlier coffee drinking had begun in Italy and other parts of Europe shortly after coffee entered via trade routes.

What was coffee originally used for before becoming a drink?

Originally, coffee was consumed as a stimulant and likely eaten with the beans or used in some raw form. Its energizing effects were the first noted benefit, making it valuable for staying awake during religious practices before it evolved into a brewed beverage.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Coffee History Fans

Explore the origins of coffee with FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Yirgacheffe, a bright and floral single origin with notes of citrus and blueberry—echoing the high-altitude Ethiopian beans first discovered by that legendary goatherd. For a deeper, spicier profile reminiscent of the Yemeni coffees that spread through the Muslim world, try their Yemen Mocha Mattari, with notes of dark chocolate and dried fig. Both beans showcase the diverse flavours that made coffee so cherished historically. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.