Taking a Look at Coffee

There are a very few drinks with a richer history and culture as coffee. Coffee has hundreds of

Coffee in world history has changed many things from its first appearance in 1635 up until today. Its effects were seen in the people, on the economy, and on the social aspect of life. These effects were mainly beneficial with some exceptions. Documents 1,3,5,7,8, and 10 show positive social effects on the people. While documents 1,3,4, and 9 show how the effects of coffee were seen positively on a worldwide scale. Whether looking close up in social communities, or looking at it as a global impact, coffee proved to have a very large and beneficial influence on how people lived their lives throughout history.

Coffee is an evergreen shrub or tree from whose seeds the drink of the same name is made. The plant was first discovered in Ethiopia, where its fruit was used for wine and food before A.D. 1000. The hot drink made of ground and roasted coffee beans was first made in the Arabian Peninsula in the 15th century. (Harkavy, 1999, p.241)

“How sweet coffee tastes! Lovelier than a thousand kisses, sweet far than muscatel wine! I must have my coffee, and if anyone wishes to please me, let him present me with–coffee!” (Bach). Inspiration of musical pieces, poems, and for college students everywhere, coffee is beloved all over the world in various roasts and styles. It has not always been this way, however. Coffee is relatively new to the Western world, becoming popular around the mid-17th century, but it has been actively consumed in the Middle East since at least 1000 AD. Economic competition ultimately caused the decline of coffee consumed in the Middle East, but that does not negate the historical, social, and political significance of the brew.

Before we discuss the benefits and disadvantages coffee does for us; what is coffee and where did it first originated from? Today, we recognize coffee as small roasted coffee beans in a container sold pretty much at any local grocery store. But coffee actually originated from an actual coffee tree that can grow to more than 30 feet tall. (National Coffee Association USA) And along the

The first discovery of the specialities of coffee was interestingly through goats. An ancient legend has it that a goatherd from Ethiopia observed his goats dancing uncontrollably after eating coffee berries. The goats also later refused to sleep at night. After discovering the capabilities the coffee berries had, it was quickly made into a drink which kept the abbots awake through the long hours of evening prayer. This drink due to its stunning effects was able to swiftly spread to the other corners of the world and became a massive popularity. In fact to this day coffee is still one of the most popular beverages in the world, helping millions of people through those tough Monday mornings.

It is said that Kaldi acquainted his local abbot of the unidentifiable plant, and after making a tea with the coffee berries, he approved the beverage for consumption throughout the village. Although Ethiopians claim to have detected the little coffee cherries, Arabians were the first people to successfully cultivate and trade coffee with other countries. Coffee was commonly drunk in the city of Mecca, becoming known as the ‘wine of Araby’. Arabians wished to be the only coffee manufacturers, but as the popularity of the drink spread, other countries began to take advantage of the opportunity and produce it themselves. As Europeans trekked to the Near East, they began to return with the ‘bitter invention of Satan’, as the ministers called it. Many clergymen deemed the potation a sin, and inquired the Pope’s opinion. After sampling and analyzing the beverage, the Pope relished the flavor so much that he approved it for use by the European people—even having the drink baptized! With a booming market and thirst for java, coffeehouses were built throughout each dominate city in the Old World, and the New (“The Roasterie”). Coffeehouses became local hubs for socialization and indulgence in the adored

The origin of caffeine was the origin of coffee without the knowledge of caffeine being a key piece in the coffee plant. There was no specific date, but an Ethiopian legend that goat herder found his goats eating this red fruit that gave them a lot of energy (Avey par. 2). The fruit, Arabica was native to Ethiopia. The coffee fruit inherently has caffeine. The first recorded date of the coffee plant was in 15th century where it was cultivated in a large scale in Yemen (Barksdale par. 2). The Arabic coffee plant had moved from its native land to become a widely produced crop. Yemen was occupied by the Ottomans around 15th century; they attempted to keep the coffee plant to themselves to be the only sellers. Though the Ottomans attempted to keep this plant in Yemen, Muslim pilgrims kept some with them when they journeyed to southern India. That plant

This is possible thanks to the careful process that goes from the coffee bean to your cup.

I sit in my kitchen every morning, with one eye open, listening to the sound of the dripping water as it fills the clear decanter with black liquid gold. The smell of hazelnut aroma fills the air and a sigh of relief escapes my breath knowing that it’s almost time to taste the delicious coffee that will awaken my senses and help me start the new day. Coffee, also known as Joe, Dirt, Brew, Java, Jitter Juice, and Liquid Energy, has been a staple in my family since I was a small boy. I still remember my father hunched over the kitchen table reading the morning newspaper while drinking a fresh cup of Joe. As an adult I have come to appreciate coffee especially in the morning, relaxing with friends at

Lately, coffee has been in all its glory. Being more popular than ever, with pumpkin spice lattes, morning coffee runs, and debates on which shop offers the best cup of coffee. No one ever seems to gain interest in how coffee was discovered, who discovered it, who invented coffee machines, and how those were invented. There is no limit to the history behind all these questions. Coffee has been around for centuries, and has changed history to say the least.

Coffee culture is the “art of enjoying coffee in a relaxing atmosphere” (Elton, par.1). Coffee had been Americans favourite beverage since yearly years. Coffee might not be so popular without Starbucks chains which represents the American coffee culture (Elton, par.1). However, Alfred Peet introduced first gourmet coffee in America before Starbucks was established (“Starbucks”). Alfred Peet was born and grew up in Holland, where his father had a coffee business (“International Directory”). After the Second World War, Peet moved to Indonesia where he worked and learned the tea trade (“International Directory”). When he came to America, he understood how poor was the coffee quality in America even

Coffee has been around for a lot longer than most people believe. The National Coffee Association (NCA) states it has been around since the early fifteenth century. It has always been more of a

The commodity chosen is coffee bean that is a seed of the coffee plant, and is the source for coffee, a very popular brewed drink with a distinct aroma and flavour. Coffee beans are found inside berries of the Coffee plant. The plants of coffee are cultivated in over 70 countries, mainly in the regions of India, Americas, Africa and Southeast Asia. The two most popular coffee types grown include Arabica and Robusta. The beverage, coffee, is slightly acidic and has caffeine that might cause a stimulating effect on humans. Majority of the researchers suggest that consuming coffee in moderation can be

By the 16th century, coffee was roasted before being ground and boiled in water. The entire resulting mixture of liquid and grounds would be consumed. The invention of the Ibrik (A small pot used in brewing and serving Turkish coffee that was invented in the late 16th century.) allowed for a more skillful technique of brewing. In the 18th century, the French developed the drip brewing technique wherein coffee is produced by using a cloth bag as a filter to separate grounds from the liquid coffee. This technique allowed for steeping the coffee at a lower temperature as it was not brewed while constantly adding heat. (Retrieved from http://coffee.wikia.com/wiki/Brewing)