From Ethiopian goat legend to global trade, the complex history of your morning brew.

History · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Coffee’s journey began in the Ethiopian highlands, but it was the Sufi monks of 15th-century Yemen who first transformed wild berries into a stimulating beverage. Once a controversial drink that faced religious bans, coffee eventually conquered the world, reshaping social customs, fueling political discourse, and defining global agricultural economies.

The origins of coffee are shrouded in legend, most famously the tale of Kaldi, an Ethiopian goatherd who noticed his flock becoming unusually energetic after eating certain berries. While the exact history remains unclear, wild coffee plants are native to the Kefa region of Ethiopia. By the 15th century, the plant had crossed the Red Sea to Yemen, where it was cultivated and brewed. Sufi monks were among the first to utilize the drink, finding that its stimulating effects helped them maintain focus during late-night prayers.

As the beverage spread to Mecca and Constantinople, it sparked intense debate. Some authorities argued the drink was intoxicating, leading to frequent, albeit unsuccessful, attempts to ban coffeehouses. These establishments, known as qahveh khanehs, became vibrant social hubs where men gathered to discuss news, play games, and debate politics. Their influence was so profound that they were often called schools of wisdom, serving as essential venues for the exchange of information in the Ottoman Empire and later in 17th-century Europe.

For nearly two centuries, Yemen maintained a near-monopoly on the world’s coffee supply. This changed as demand surged, leading to the plant’s propagation across the Indonesian archipelago and eventually the Americas. By the 20th century, production had shifted heavily to the Western Hemisphere, with Brazil emerging as the dominant producer. Today, the industry faces new challenges, as climate change and the threat of extreme heat and drought jeopardize the stability of the Coffee Belt, the narrow tropical region where the vast majority of the world's coffee is grown.

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