When Did Coffee Reach China and What Are Its Legends?

Coffee shops are now common across China — in restaurants, bakeries, and independent cafés — but when did people here really start drinking coffee? The answer depends on where you look. Different regions embraced coffee at vastly different times.

In short: Taiwanese began drinking coffee in the 1970s, Indonesians (especially overseas Chinese) were daily coffee drinkers by the 1960s, Hong Kong’s timeline is uncertain but likely early, and mainland China only saw a coffee boom starting in the late 1990s. Today, young people enjoy coffee in diverse settings.

The Ethiopian Legend: The Goats and the Red Berries

One of the oldest coffee origin stories comes from 10th-century Ethiopia. According to the tale, a goat herder named Kaldi noticed his flock became unusually energetic after eating red berries from a certain tree. Curious, he tried the berries himself and felt invigorated. He shared them with villagers, and word of the stimulating fruit began to spread. This moment is often cited as the first encounter with what we now know as coffee.

The Yemeni Legend: Omar’s Miracle Cure

Another key legend originates in 13th-century Yemen. A banished tribal leader, Sheikh Omar, struggling in the wilderness of Ousab (near Yemen), noticed birds chirping happily after eating red fruits from a tree. He boiled the fruits and drank the liquid — and felt reinvigorated. He went on to use the brew to heal the sick during his exile. His reputation for miraculous healing led to his return to Mocha, where he was hailed as a saint, and the energizing fruit became known as coffee.

How Coffee Reached China: A Regional Timeline

Coffee entered different parts of China at different times:

• Taiwan: By the 1970s, locals had begun drinking coffee regularly — around 40 years of history by current estimates.
• Indonesia (Overseas Chinese): Chinese communities in Indonesia were already daily coffee drinkers by the 1960s.
• Hong Kong: The exact date coffee arrived is debated, but it predates other regions — further research is needed.
• Mainland China: Coffee culture started taking off in the late 1990s. Since then, the number of cafés has grown rapidly, especially in urban areas. Younger generations have embraced coffee, and consumption now happens in diverse venues including restaurants, cafés, bakeries, and dessert shops.

The Birthplace of Coffee: Ethiopia’s Role

Ethiopia is widely recognized as the birthplace of coffee. Its high-altitude regions, especially Yirgacheffe and Sidamo, produce some of the world’s most distinctive Arabica beans. These beans thrive at elevations around 1,400–2,200 metres and develop unique flavour profiles thanks to volcanic soils, consistent rainfall, and cool climates.

Modern coffee drinkers exploring Ethiopia’s contributions can still taste those legendary flavours in today’s single-origin offerings.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did people in Taiwan start drinking coffee?

Taiwanese began drinking coffee regularly in the 1970s, meaning the habit has been common there for roughly 40 years as of the 2020s.

What about Hong Kong — when did coffee arrive there?

The exact timing isn’t confirmed, but evidence suggests coffee may have reached Hong Kong earlier than other regions, though further historical research is needed to verify this claim.

Did coffee come to mainland China in the 1990s?

Yes, coffee started gaining popularity in mainland China in the late 1990s. Since then, the café scene has expanded rapidly, especially among younger consumers, with coffee now available in many types of venues.

Where did the story of coffee’s origin come from?

Two major origin legends exist: one from 10th-century Ethiopia about a goat herder named Kaldi who discovered the effects of red coffee berries, and another from 13th-century Yemen about Sheikh Omar who used coffee berries to cure illness and regain strength.

What role did Ethiopia play in coffee history?

Ethiopia is considered the birthplace of coffee. Its high-altitude regions like Yirgacheffe and Sidamo produce distinctive Arabica beans that remain central to global speciality coffee culture today.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans from Ethiopia

Explore Ethiopia’s coffee legacy with FrontStreet’s Yirgacheffe Gedeb and Huakui. The Yirgacheffe Gedeb (Gedeb) is lightly roasted to highlight its bright citrus, jasmine, and lemon notes with a crisp, tea-like body — ideal for pour-over. The Ethiopia Huakui, a naturally processed Sidamo bean, offers juicy berry, strawberry, honey, and citrus layers with medium acidity, well-suited to immersion brewing. Both showcase Ethiopia’s diverse terroirs and processing methods. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.