How Muslims First Discovered and Revered Coffee

Ever wondered how coffee earned its sacred reputation in the Muslim world? The story goes back over a thousand years — before espresso machines, before third-wave coffee, before even the modern coffeehouse. It begins not in a café, but in the highlands of Ethiopia and the deserts of Arabia, where a mysterious black drink fueled monks, warriors, and eventually, empires.

In short: Coffee was first used by Ethiopian and East African tribes as early as the 5th century, then spread to the Arabian Peninsula by the 6th century. By the 10th century, it was documented by Muslim scholars as a plant with stimulating effects. Yemeni Sufi monks embraced it, and by the 15th century, it was known as the 'gift of God' — qahwa — in the Islamic world.

The Origins: Coffee’s Journey from Ethiopia to Arabia

Coffee’s story begins in the 5th century in East Africa — specifically, in regions that are now Ethiopia and Kenya. Historical accounts indicate that tribes from these areas invaded the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula and occupied Yemen for about a century. During this time, they brought with them a practice of brewing a stimulant drink made from crushed red fruits mixed with green leaves. These African soldiers carried coffee balls wrapped in animal fat to boost alertness and combat effectiveness. This early form of coffee consumption predates its formal recognition in Arabia.

Early Arabic Records: Qahwa and Bunchum

By the 8th century, a mysterious black drink called ‘Qahwa’ was circulating in the Arabian Peninsula. It was said to restore energy, heighten awareness, and prevent drowsiness. While the term ‘Qahwa’ originally referred to wine, it became associated with this energizing drink. By the 10th century, the Persian Muslim physician and philosopher Avicenna (Ibn Sina, 980–1037) recorded a plant from Yemen called ‘Bunchum,’ believed to be an early reference to coffee. His writings describe its energizing properties, aligning with what we know of coffee today.

Coffee in Yemeni Monasteries: The Legend of Omar

The first detailed legend of coffee’s discovery comes from 16th-century accounts, including the 1578 book ‘The Origin of Coffee’ by Muslim author Abd al-Qadir al-Jaziri, which references the story of Sheikh Omar. According to the tale, Omar — a revered healer from Mocha, Yemen — was exiled and surviving on wild plants. He tried red berries from a tree and found them bitter, so he roasted them, then boiled them. The resulting drink revived him. When news of its effects reached his home, Omar returned and the drink spread. Though the story is likely apocryphal, it anchors coffee’s sacred reputation to Yemen, particularly Mocha — a name still linked with coffee today.

Coffee as a Divine Gift in Islamic Culture

Among early Muslim communities, coffee was considered a ‘gift of God’ — a divine stimulant that aided long prayer sessions, study, and meditation. Sufi monks in Yemen were among the first to systematically use coffee to stay awake during nighttime worship and spiritual rituals. This spiritual adoption helped cement its place not just as a beverage, but as a blessed substance. Over time, coffee became widely accepted across the Islamic world, often consumed in social and religious settings.

The Spread to the Ottoman Empire and Beyond

As the Ottoman Empire expanded across Europe, Asia, and Africa, so did coffee. Turkish traders and soldiers brought the drink — and the beans themselves — to new regions. The Ottomans refined coffee preparation methods, including roasting and boiling the grounds, and established some of the first coffeehouses. These establishments became cultural hubs, further spreading coffee’s influence. The ‘black water’ and its energizing red fruit crossed religious and geographic boundaries, carried by the very empire that once threatened Europe.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was coffee first discovered and by whom?

Coffee was first used by East African tribes as early as the 5th century, but its documented use as a stimulant dates back to the 6th century in the Arabian Peninsula. The earliest legend of its discovery involves Sheikh Omar of Mocha, Yemen, in the 15th century, though this story is likely symbolic rather than factual.

What was coffee originally called in the Muslim world?

In the Muslim world, coffee was originally referred to as ‘Qahwa,’ a term that may have originally meant wine but came to denote the energizing black drink. By the 10th century, it was also associated with a Yemeni plant called ‘Bunchum,’ recorded by the Persian scholar Avicenna.

Why did Sufi monks in Yemen drink coffee?

Yemeni Sufi monks consumed coffee to stay awake during long nights of prayer, meditation, and spiritual practice. Its stimulating effects made it a valuable aid for extended worship sessions, helping to solidify its sacred reputation in Islamic culture.

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

Coffee spread through trade and conquest, notably via the Ottoman Empire. As the Ottomans expanded into Europe, the Middle East, and beyond, they carried coffee and its preparation methods. This helped introduce coffee to new regions and cultures, eventually leading to its global popularity.

Was coffee always accepted in Islamic culture?

While initially met with some suspicion due to its stimulating effects, coffee was later embraced as a ‘gift of God.’ Its use among Sufi monks and in religious settings helped it gain religious acceptance, and it became a widely respected and socially important beverage across the Islamic world.

Where did the legend of Omar and Mocha coffee come from?

The legend of Omar, who discovered coffee’s energizing properties after trying red berries in the wilderness, originates from 16th-century texts like the 1578 book ‘The Origin of Coffee.’ Though likely apocryphal, it connects the origins of coffee drinking to Mocha, Yemen — a city still famous in coffee lore.

FrontStreet Coffee Beans Linked to Coffee’s Origins

Explore coffees that echo coffee’s ancient roots with FrontStreet’s Ethiopia Yirgacheffe, offering bright citrus and floral tones, and Kenya Little Tomato, known for its bold acidity and berry-like sweetness. For a taste of Yemen’s legacy, try our Yemen Mocha Mattari-style offering if available — all roasted to highlight their heritage profiles. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.