Coffee Was Discovered by Goats

The tale of coffee's discovery, famously attributed to a 9th-century Ethiopian goat herder named Kaldi, is steeped in folklore. While observing his flock, he noticed the animals became incredibly energetic after consuming the red berries of a particular shrub. Curious, Kaldi tried the berries himself and experienced a similar stimulating effect. According to the legend, he shared his findings with a local monastery. In one popular version of the story, a skeptical monk threw the berries into a fire, but the enticing aroma of the roasting beans prompted the monks to retrieve them, grind (Review) them up, and dissolve them in hot water, creating the world's first cup of coffee.

This discovery proved to be a welcome one for the monks, who found the beverage helped them stay alert during long hours of evening prayer. While the story of Kaldi and his dancing goats is likely apocryphal, first appearing in writing in the 17th century, it points to the historical origins of coffee in Ethiopia. The practice of consuming coffee is believed to have spread from Ethiopia to the Arabian Peninsula in the 15th century. Sufi monks in Yemen, in particular, embraced the drink to remain awake for their nighttime religious rituals.

From these monastic beginnings, coffee houses began to emerge in the Middle (Review) East in the 16th century, becoming centers of social and cultural life. The global journey of the coffee bean continued as traders and travelers introduced it to Europe and beyond. Though the tale of the energetic goats may be a legend, it captures the essence of coffee's invigorating properties and its deep-rooted history in the ancient coffee forests of the Ethiopian plateau.