Timeline of Coffee History: Key Dates and Events

You’ve probably heard bits and pieces about coffee’s long history—maybe that it started in Ethiopia or that espresso machines were invented in Italy—but when exactly did each major moment happen? This timeline pulls together every verified date and event in coffee’s global journey, from its wild discovery to modern brewing breakthroughs.

Coffee’s story begins in the 6th or 7th century in Ethiopia, where its berries were first found, and unfolds across more than a dozen centuries with key moments like the first documented coffee tree plantings in Arabia (1100), the opening of Europe’s first coffeehouses (1650s), and the rise of third-wave coffee in the 2000s.

Origins and Early Use (6th–13th Century)

The earliest known discovery of coffee berries dates back to the 6th or 7th century in Ethiopia. By the 10th century, Arab physician Rhazes is recognized as the first to document coffee in writing. Around 1100, the first recorded coffee trees were cultivated on the Arabian Peninsula; after roasting and brewing, the drink was called "Gahwa," meaning "Islamic brew." In the 13th century, methods like sun-drying coffee cherries to reduce moisture and extend shelf life were developed—techniques still used today.

Spread Across the Islamic World and Europe (15th–17th Century)

In 1454, a prominent Islamic figure made coffee more widely available, transforming it into a common drink across Islamic regions. The first recorded coffeehouse, Kaveh Kanes, opened in Mecca in 1475. By 1480, Catholic friars visiting Ethiopia documented coffee for the first time in European records. The Ottoman Turks conquered the Arabian region in 1505 and embraced coffee. Istanbul’s first coffeehouse, Kiva Han, appeared in 1554. In 1582, German doctor Leonhard Rauwolf detailed coffee, and in 1592, Italian botanist Prospero Alpini created the first woodcut of the coffee plant.

Coffee Arrives in Europe and the Americas (1600–1700)

Venice received the first commercial coffee shipment from Yemen’s Mocha port in 1600, leading to Italy’s first coffeehouse. Dutch traders smuggled a coffee seedling and seeds from Yemen’s port of Mocha in 1616, bringing them to Amsterdam. By 1650, the first European coffeehouse outside Italy opened in Oxford, England, followed by Italy’s second in Leghorn (Livorno) in 1651. That same year, the world’s first coffee advertisement appeared in London. England’s first coffeehouse, “Pasqua Rosee,” opened in 1652. A coffee grinder was invented in London in 1665, and by 1670, Boston’s Dorothy Jones became America’s first licensed coffee trader. Myths about coffee’s origins, such as the “dancing goats” story, emerged in 1671. Paris got its first coffeehouse in 1672, and London saw a women’s anti-coffee petition in 1674. Vienna’s first coffeehouse opened in 1683, supplied by defeated Turkish troops, the same year New York’s green coffee market began, replacing beer as a breakfast staple.

Global Expansion and Brewing Innovations (1700–1900)

The first coffeehouse in Berlin opened in 1721. In 1723, French officer Gabriel Mathieu de Clieu planted the first coffee tree in the Americas on Martinique. Brazil’s coffee industry began in 1727 when a governor’s wife gifted coffee seedlings to a Brazilian officer, who planted them in Pará. Jamaica received coffee in 1730. The Dutch developed the washed (wet) processing method in 1740. By 1750, Rome’s Caffè Greco opened. Venice had over 2,000 coffeehouses by 1763. In 1779, coffee was introduced to Costa Rica. A 1785 coffee rebellion erupted in Prussia over class-based consumption limits. Paris had 1,800 coffeehouses by 1788. In 1800, a Parisian archbishop invented an early drip coffee maker. Boston’s largest coffee shop burned down in 1808. In 1810, a coffee farmer discovered the “Bourbon pointu” variety. France built its first espresso extraction prototype in 1822. Coffee reached Hawaii in 1828 via a missionary. The siphon (vacuum) pot was invented around 1840. Rome’s Caffè Greco expanded, and in 1865, James Mason patented the coffee percolator.

Modern Coffee Equipment and Global Trade (1900–2000)

The early 1900s brought major brewing innovations: in 1900, the U.S. brothers patented vacuum-sealed coffee tins; in 1901, Luigi Bezzera invented the steam espresso machine, and Satori Kato created instant coffee. Decaffeination technology emerged in 1903, the same year Desiderio Pavoni acquired Bezzera’s patent and launched production, sparking the first espresso machine boom. In 1905, the piston-driven espresso machine refined crema. Melitta Bentz patented the paper coffee filter in 1908. George Washington pioneered mass-produced instant coffee in 1910. The 1930s saw the development of the Brazil spray-drying method (1938), Achille Gaggia’s lever espresso machine (1938), and the Chemex filter in 1941. High-pressure espresso machines with pistons debuted in 1945. Gaggia improved the piston design in 1948. American electric drip machines emerged after 1960. The Faema E61 pump-driven espresso machine revolutionized cafes in 1961. Freeze-dried instant coffee was invented in 1964 by General Foods. Alfred Peet opened his pioneering roastery in 1966, inspiring the founding of Starbucks in 1971. Fair trade coffee imports began in 1973, and the term “specialty coffee” was coined in 1974. The SCAA formed in 1983, and Howard Schultz acquired Starbucks in 1987. The first fair trade label appeared in 1988. Starbucks went public in 1992.

21st-Century Innovations and Third Wave Coffee (2000–Present)

The 2000s marked the “third wave” of coffee, beginning in 2003 with a focus on coffee artistry. In 2004, Synesso introduced precision temperature-controlled espresso machines. The AeroPress was launched in 2005, and the VST refractometer for coffee analysis followed in 2008. Costa Coffee insured a cupping judge’s tongue for £10 million in 2009. That same year, innovative fermented coffees and the Slayer espresso machine debuted. In 2010, Panama’s Geisha coffee set an auction record at $170.20 per pound. A Yemeni Mocca variety sold for $211.50 per pound in 2011, the highest ever for a single-origin lot. Starbucks closed its original Beijing store in 2013, marking a pivot point in its global expansion.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was coffee first discovered?

Coffee berries were first discovered in Ethiopia in the 6th or 7th century. This is the earliest known record of coffee’s existence, long before it was documented or cultivated elsewhere.

What was the first recorded use of coffee as a drink?

By around 1100, coffee trees were cultivated on the Arabian Peninsula, and the brewed drink was referred to as "Gahwa," meaning "Islamic brew," after the beans were roasted and boiled.

Where was the first coffeehouse opened?

The first recorded coffeehouse, Kaveh Kanes, opened in Mecca in 1475. Europe’s first coffeehouse opened in Venice around 1650, followed by England’s first in 1652.

When did espresso machines and coffee filters get invented?

The first espresso machine prototypes emerged in the early 1900s, with Luigi Bezzera’s steam-driven machine in 1901 and the piston-driven machine refining crema in 1945. Melitta Bentz patented the paper coffee filter in 1908.

What are some major milestones in 21st-century coffee?

The 2000s ushered in the third wave coffee movement, highlighted by Panama’s Geisha auctioning for $170.20 per pound in 2010 and a rare Yemeni Mocca variety selling for $211.50 per pound in 2011—the highest prices ever for single-origin coffees.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Coffee History Fans

Explore the origins of coffee with FrontStreet’s Ethiopia Guji Huakui, a bright and juicy Ethiopian single origin with notes of blueberry and jasmine—echoing the wild berries first discovered in Ethiopia centuries ago. Pair it with Colombia Narino Huila, a balanced, fruity Washed lot that reflects the diversity of modern specialty origins. For a taste of classic European roasting tradition, try FrontStreet’s Brazil Cerrado, a nutty and low-acid bean often used in traditional espresso blends. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.