Where Did the Coffee Drinking Trend Begin?

Ever wondered why nearly every corner of the globe seems to run on coffee? From philosophers guzzling dozens of cups a day to composers writing entire cantatas about it, coffee’s global popularity didn’t happen overnight. But where—and how—did this now-ubiquitous drink first catch on?

The answer goes back nearly 2,000 years, to an Ethiopian goatherd named Kaldi who noticed his goats acting unusually energetic after eating red berries from a wild shrub. Curious, he tried the fruit himself—and soon felt the same buzz. That moment is widely regarded as the first encounter with what we now know as coffee.

The Accidental Discovery by a Goat Herder

Nearly 2,000 years ago, a young shepherd named Kaldi was tending his flock on the slopes near the Red Sea in what is now Ethiopia. His goats began eating bright red berries from a nearby bush and soon started behaving wildly—jumping and full of energy. When Kaldi tried the berries himself, he experienced the same stimulating effect. This chance discovery marked the first known interaction with coffee fruit.

From Goats to Monks: The First Coffee Drink

A local monk witnessed Kaldi’s energized behavior and decided to investigate the berries himself. He boiled the coffee beans in hot water and created a drink. Unlike anything he had tasted before, the brew helped him and his fellow monks stay alert during long evening prayers. Word of the energizing effects spread quickly among the religious community, marking one of the earliest organized uses of coffee as a stimulant.

Coffee’s Surprising Cultural Impact Through History

As coffee spread, it became far more than just a drink. In 18th-century Europe, it gained a reputation as the “intellectual beverage,” with figures like Napoleon praising its mind-sharpening qualities. The French writer Voltaire reportedly drank 72 cups a day. In Turkey, coffee was so culturally significant that a husband’s failure to provide it for his wife could be grounds for divorce. By 1735, German composer Johann Sebastian Bach celebrated coffee in his “Coffee Cantata,” a musical tribute to the drink’s growing cultural importance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who first discovered coffee and how?

The Ethiopian shepherd Kaldi is credited with the first known discovery of coffee around 2,000 years ago. He noticed his goats became energetic after eating red berries from a bush, tried them himself, and experienced a similar boost in energy. This led to the initial human encounter with what we now call coffee.

What did early monks do with coffee?

After seeing Kaldi’s energized goats, a local monk brewed the beans in hot water. The resulting drink helped him and his fellow monks stay awake during long prayer sessions. This is among the first recorded uses of coffee as a stimulant in a religious or communal setting.

How did coffee become popular in Europe?

Coffee gained a strong foothold in Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries. It was dubbed the “intellectual beverage” and was embraced by notable figures such as Napoleon and Voltaire. Its stimulating effects made it popular among scholars, artists, and the general public, spreading rapidly across the continent.

Was coffee ever so important it affected marriage laws?

Yes, in historical Turkey, coffee held such cultural weight that a wife could legally divorce her husband if he failed to provide her with coffee regularly. This underscores how deeply embedded coffee was in daily life and social expectations during that period.

What role did music play in coffee’s history?

In 1735, German composer Johann Sebastian Bach wrote the “Coffee Cantata,” a musical piece that celebrated coffee culture. This work highlighted coffee’s growing influence in European society and helped cement its status as a trendy and socially significant 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 jasmine. For a deeper experience, try their Ethiopia Guji, offering blueberry and sweet spice tones that reflect the region’s rich coffee heritage. Both beans highlight the diverse flavors rooted in coffee’s birthplace. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.