Who Invented Coffee?

Coffee is undeniably one of the most popular beverages today, which can be served both hot and cold. It is rich in caffeine, an ingredient known for its invigorating effects. It is produced widely in countries such as Colombia, Vietnam and Brazil. Aside from these valuable details, it is nice to know other interesting things about this special beverage including who invented coffee.

The Invention of Coffee
Who invented coffee? Based on historical accounts, the Ethiopians were the first to discover the ability of the coffee bean plant to energize human beings. Highlanders started to cultivate beans way back to the ninth century. When the Arabs decided to expand their trade, the beans have reached other places such as Yemen and North Africa. At that time, no one can stop the popularity of coffee, which then expanded to the European and Indian markets.

Additional Facts and Other Important Information
In 1587, Abd al-Qadir al-Jaziri compiled in his work entitled “Umdat al safwa fi hill al-qahwa” the different legal controversies as well as the history of coffee. Based on that particular work, a certain sheik named Jamal-al-Din al-Dhabhani was the very first individual who adopted coffee in the Muslim world. The beverage was widely used by the Sufis during that time in order to drive away sleep.

From Yemen as the starting point, coffee found its way to Yemen as export. In 1554, the very first coffeehouse started somewhere in Istanbul. During that time, the beverage was not received well by the people. In fact, the conservative people during that period banned the drink in many places mainly because of its stimulating effect. In 1524, Ottoman Turkish Sultan Selim-I lifted the ban on coffee.

From the Ottoman Empire, coffee reached Europe through Italy, where the beverage was first imported. In 1645, the first coffeehouse in Europe was opened some where in Venice. Based on Leonhard Rauwolf’s 1583 account, the beverage became available in England through the efforts of the Dutch East India Company and the British East India Company. The very first coffeehouse in that area was established in Cornhill.

In Austria, the first coffeehouse started in the City of Vienna in 1683. It was established right after the Battle of Vienna, where the country received supplies from the defeated Turks. The military officer named Jerzy Franciszek Kulczycki was the recipient of the coffee beans. He started the coffeehouse. He also started the custom of adding milk and sugar to the coffee in order to give it a more pleasant taste and flavor.