He told his discovery of a local monk, who then examined the mysterious fruits. Disappointed with the bitter taste of the berries, the monk threw them into the fire. An aromatic fragrance spread that attracted the attention of the monks. Out of curiosity, they tried to brew the roasted fruits in hot water, and were surprised that the drink helped them to stay awake and concentrated during long prayer times.
This discovery spread over the years. Monks began to consume the drink regularly, and soon coffee became known in other monasteries and regions. The spread of coffee as a stimulant and its importance as a vigilant could no longer be stopped. Over time, coffee from Ethiopia came to Yemen, and there it finally became an integral part of religious and social culture.
In the 15th century, the coffee finally reached the Arabian Peninsula, especially the cities of Mecca and Medina. Here the first coffee consumption in the form of the "Qahwa" (Arabic for coffee) developed. The coffee trade picked up, and coffee bean seeds were increasingly introduced to other regions such as Persia, Syria and Egypt. In 1592 the coffee finally found its way via Venice to Europe. In the 17th century, the "miracle bean" spread in the first coffee houses all over Europe. However, the Venetians insist that the first coffee house was the "Alla Venezia Trionfante".
Today coffee is the most popular drink in the world and from everyday global life. It is drunk by millions of people worldwide - be it at home, at work or at a meeting with friends. Whether the legend of Kaldi and his goats is right or whether the first coffee house in Europe was really in Venice is and was never important for the success of coffee. But it was important for the cafiosa because it became the only “coffee fairy” in the world in Venice in 1592. If you want to read more about their history, click here.
Written, 8.2.24, Sacha Nieth
