Resource Center » History of Coffee
Coffee has an interesting story to tell; it didn't just appear inside of your favorite personalized coffee mug! It was discovered in Ethiopia during the ninth-century and quickly became popular in other areas. By the end of the sixteenth-century, European people were importing coffee and opening their own coffee houses; these coffee houses placed small jars throughout their establishments and therefore introduced the idea of tipping.
Many countries banned the drinking of coffee because its stimulants prevented people from sleeping easily at night. These countries overturned their bans centuries later. Pope Clement VIII was even ostracized by some when he went against the words of some advisors and endorsed the beverage.
For a brief rundown of the history of coffee, checkout the following timeline of important events:
800s to 900s: Coffee is discovered in Ethiopia and is consumed by people in Egypt.
900s to 1000s: A Persian doctor mentions the drinking of coffee in one of his books.
1100: Coffee trees are cultivated.
1454: A Sheikh in Aden drinks coffee to help himself stay awake.
1471: Istanbul opens the first coffee house in history.
1511: A Mecca court bans coffee, but removes the law in 1524.
1532: Egypt bans coffee.
1583: Coffee is served in England.
1587: Qadir al-Jaziri writes about the history of coffee as a beverage.
1598: Coffee becomes an English word.
1600: Pope Clement VIII endorses coffee.
1600: Coffee becomes available in Europe.
1607: John Smith brings coffee to Virginia.
1645: The first Italian coffee house opens.
1652: The first English coffee house opens.
1672: The first French coffee shop and café opens.
1683: The first Austrian coffee house opens.
1700s: The Ottoman Empire prohibits the drinking of coffee in Turkey.
1711: Indonesian coffee is exported to other countries.
1720: Coffee seeds are brought to the Caribbean, where they flourish.
1721: The first German coffee house opens.
1727: Coffee beans are sold in Brazil, and the first coffee plantation appears.
1776: Coffee becomes a major import to North America.
1812: Americans turn to coffee when they can’t get tea.
1822: A French inventor creates the espresso machine.
1880: Coffee growing is introduced in Australia.
1885: Coffee brewers begin using gas and air to roast beans.
1905: Espresso machines are sold to the public.
1907: Ethiopia opens its own port and becomes a producer of coffee beans.
1908: Metlitta Bentz invents the coffee filter.
1908: The drip coffeemaker is introduced.
1938: Nestle invents instant coffee.
1942: America adds coffee to the ration kits given to soldiers overseas.
1971: The first Starbucks opens.
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