Essay On The Legend Of Kaldi

The Drink of reason, coffee, seems to not have changed much culturally to this day, as when it is brought to the table over 250 years ago (pg. 170). Coffee remains to be the drink over which people meet

Before coffee there were two choices for hydration - water or alcoholic beverage. The water was not purified so it often made people sick. The alcohol would purify the beverage but made everyone drunk. Coffee, boiling water actually, gave a new source of fluids that was not alcoholic, was not full of microbes, and the caffeine gave a little kick. This discovery allowed scientists to look inside the creation and process of making coffee, and played a role in the scientific revolution.

The Europeans got coffee from the Arabs in the 17th century when European explorers visited Islamic lands and brought the drink back with them. At first, there was a controversy whether it should be prohibited or not due

A) Coffee originated in Yemen, Arabia where it was viewed as a religious beverage. Over time it spread to Mecca and Cairo, where it became a recreational drink to be drunk in a social manner in large coffee houses. It also became a popular substitute for alcohol, which was banned under Islam. Europeans traveling in the Middle East came upon coffee and coffeehouses and commented on their popularity. But it wasn’t until 1652, when an Armenian servant named Pasqua Rosee opened the first coffee house in London, that coffee transformed from a little known novelty into a wide spread phenomenon. When, in 1658, Cromwell died and public opinion swung in the favor of a new monarchy, coffee houses became central in political debates and commercial business. The trend quickly caught on and coffee houses became fashionable throughout Europe.

Coffee consumption in China is highly concentrated in large cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. Also other cities like Wuhan coffee culture seems to expand. Recently coffee appeals to adventurous young, rich, and urban consumers. This is just because originally coffee is considered as a Western concept to most Chinese consumers. According to Subhuti (2003), the Chinese do not consume coffee because of its potential health value either in terms of modern medical data or traditional Chinese medical concepts. Rather, it has been consumed until now as part of the fascination with western culture that has grown during the past few decades. However the coffee culture is getting well known in China nowadays. Chinese

Coffee was the first true “global” beverage because it was allowed to be consumed by people of

Coffee quickly became the drink of intellect and industry being known to sharpen the mind. Taverns were replaced with a more sophisticated meeting place, the coffeehouse. These “led to the establishment of scientific societies and financial institutions, the founding of newspapers, and provided fertile ground for revolutionary thought.” [4]

Members of the Coffee Cult, the drinkers, battled the likes of the tea, hot chocolate and soda drinkers for land and power since the beginning of time. In fact, the coffee cult was the most victorious among beverage worshipers. Because all pure beans have a bit of caffeine, the crusaders were able to stay awake longer than all the other thirsty ones. The coffee crusades took place over 100 years to conquer the holy lands of South America, where the sacred bean first flourished. Since then, the

Coffee increases awareness, and gives you energy. Also, the production cost of coffee was lower than the production cost of alcohol.

The caffeine in coffee become an ethical increase over alcohol and have become a fashionable social beverage. It was interesting to see how it started off as this very exotic drink only for the upper class and then turned into what it is now. Coffee is a very fashionable drink that does not cost much that many have led their days with in today’s society.

Some of the diffusion of Coffee has to do with Islamic Sufis because the Islamic Sufis began drinking coffee to keep them awake during the night.

1. Coffee originated in Europe by the expansion of “Age of Exploration” opening new ideas with criticism, tolerance, and freedom of thought.

As colonization began in different continents colonist used the drink to get them through the torments of the new world. Rum may even be responsible for the start if the independence movement of America. Hard liquor played a role in the economy,trade,spread of technology and disease along with other ties to history. Whiskey became a symbol of triumph and freedom because everyone of all ages drank it. Then came the enlightenment period where ideas and new philosophies were being spread and shared, Coffee was introduced as a drink that sharpened and cleared the mind.Coffee was associated with intellectuals and the modern world. Coffee was an alternative to alcoholic beverages, "anti-alcohol" some may even say, coffee became very popular in London where many coffee houses rose,these coffee houses encouraged the sharing of new philosophies,politics, and many debates.Coffee made an impact on comerce and was very welcomed in the 18th

Political: workers drank coffee to have better concentration and improve the mind and perks their ability to work. There were differences in the coffeehouses of the French and English.

Coffee has played a major role in the lives of many people around the world. “Yet, poetic as its taste may be, coffee’s history is rife with controversy and politics…[becoming a] creator of revolutionary sedition in Arab countries and in Europe” (Pendergrast xvi). After reading Uncommon Grounds, it is apparent that the history of coffee is intertwined with the aspects of the globalization process, the role of Multi-National Corporations, and global economic issues.