Coffee is a popular morning drink in many places throughout the world. Where did it originate? Who discovered it? There may be different stories about the origin, but this is one I found. Some people I know at work who are from Yemen say this is the story they know.
Some say the first coffee was brewed in Yemen. There is a story of a Yemeni man traveling in Ethiopia who discovered coffee. The story says he came across some birds eating a plant. The birds were energetic. He decided to try the beans from the plant himself as he was exhausted from traveling. He discovered the beans gave him energy as well. The coffee beans were taken from Ethiopia to Yemen and later Yemeni traders brought the coffee plants to Yemen to grow them there.
Coffee became very popular in Yemen where people drank it in qubveh khaneh or coffee houses. Coffee houses were place where people listened to music and played board games like chess. When coffee drinking spread to other Arabic countries people would discuss political ideas and news at coffee houses.
Originally coffee was called qahwar in Arabic, which means wine of the beans, Yemenis introduced coffee to other Arabic or Middle Eastern countries. When coffee made its way to Turkey it was called kahve in Turkish and later it was called koffie in Dutch when it was introduced in Europe.
In the top picture is an Arabic coffee set. I learned from co-workers how to make it the traditional way: cooking it in a pot over a burner while stirring it. The coffee seems to be ground finer than other coffees, but I am not a coffee drinker.
People still drink it today for the same reasons the first person saw value in the plant: it gives you energy. This no doubt is from the caffeine. Coffee seems to be important the world over as a morning drink. What’s your favourite kind or way of making it?
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Nice information
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It was an interesting story to find.
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A mission trip I was invited to in 1980 to Germany used a coffee house/hostel as our meeting place. Meals, devotions, and relaxing times were the purposes.
cjsmissionaryministry@gmail.com
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Different countries and cultures may have different ideas about coffee shops. Some conduct small business meetings there, others discuss politics, etc.
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Nice story, Sharon. And coffee is good to drink anytime. Morning, mid-morning, noon, afternoon and evening. 🤓😎 Dark roast is my preferred “cup of tea”.
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Sharon,
This blog reminded me of the book, The Monk of Mokha by Dave Eggers. Have you read it? He is a Yemeni American and writes extensively about the history and future of coffee. I think these friends might be authorities: “Some people I know at work who are from Yemen say this is the story they know.” Stewart
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I will have to look into this. Thanks for the book recommendation.
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You are welcome. I was curious since you blogged about coffee and Yemen was a theme. Stewart
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The Yemeni people at work were eager to share some of their culture and customs.
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We have Ethiopian friends who lived on a coffee farm back home. They treated us to their version of coffee, from roasting the green beans in a cast iron pan to brewing and drinking. Coffee has many variations and I am happy for my daily brew. Cheers Sharon. Allan
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I don’t drink coffee, but love tea. As you appreciate the different varieties of coffee I do as well with tea. It’s fascinating. Now I have the option of making authentic coffee they drink in Arab countries for people at work. I even bought the recommended fine grained coffee in an Arab grocery. Even other who drink coffee loved it. I know some stick to coffee the same way everyday but more and more are trying different varieties.
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Soooooooo INTERESTING!!
Thanks!
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We used to drink coffee from coarsely grounded dried arabica beans. It was heavenly! However, I never had the chance to drink and compare coffee from different countries. Actually, I did but never paid much attention to how it tasted. Now, sadly, I drink coffee from a Keurig machine.
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Sometimes we are so busy we do what we can to make life easier. If you get to visit a city with a variety of restaurants from other cultures, I’m sure if you went to one from an Arabic country they make have coffee prepared the traditional way. I went to a Moroccan restaurant and had the best mint tea ever. I need to learn how they did it.
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Interesting information, one of those topics I know nothing about – never got into the coffee life thanks to the initial horrific taste and ended up hooked on Moutain Dew during my heaving coding years – all passed now and caffeine free for the last 25 years.
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