Coffee has a long and interesting history, which is why we thought we’d share some interesting coffee facts with you today. Read on to learn a little bit more about its history, its early popularity and how it spread around the world.
Coffee Origins are Mysterious
We don’t actually know who started making coffee. One story says that a goatherd in 9th century Ethiopia noticed his goats get extra excited after eating some coffee berries. Another says coffee was discovered by Moroccan Sufi mystic Ghothul Akbar Nooruddin Abu al-Hasan al-Shadhili, who witnessed birds getting some extra energy after eating coffee plants when travelling through Ethiopia.
While both of those stories are likely untrue, we do know that the Oromo people of modern-day Ethiopia and Kenya were the first to cultivate the plant and likely the first recognize its energizing effects.
Coffee Held a Religious Importance Early On
Coffee rituals exist in many cultures around the world, many of them religious. Strong written records about coffee drinking in its earliest days is sparse, which is why we don’t know much about its true origins. But we do know that coffee became an important part of religious ceremonies and events throughout the Islamic world.
The likely reason is that coffee is a natural appetite suppressant that also gives you energy, making it perfect for holidays and celebrations that involve fasting, like Ramadan. Event today, you can find coffee is an important part of people’s lives throughout the Middle East and North Africa.
Coffee Made its Way Around the World Through Smuggling
As colonialism began to take over the world, many parts of Arabia started to lock down on coffee because it had become so popular and profitable. The result was a total ban on coffee exports heading to many destinations. The result, which happens often in these situations, was widespread smuggling.
Arguably the first coffee smuggler of some renown was an Indian pilgrim named Baba Budan, who snuck seven beans from Mecca to India, where he started to grow coffee plants. Today, it’s believed that about a third of all coffee grown in India is descended from those seeds.
There are Lots of Ways to Prepare Coffee
The last of our interesting coffee facts is about the preparation of coffee. Now that you know some fun facts about its history and use, it’s time to talk about your own coffee-making rituals.
The truth is that there are literally dozens of ways to prepare a cup of coffee, from large percolators to original coffee roasting rituals from Ethiopia, the birthplace of coffee. But one of the best ways to brew coffee today is with a simple ceramic pour over coffee maker from Kajava Mama.
Blending simplicity and comforting ritual, a pour over coffee maker puts you in total control of brewing the perfect cup. The process is quick and easy and will make you a cup of coffee that’s full of flavor without any burning or bitterness – just the complete taste of your favorite beans, every time.
We hope you enjoyed these interesting coffee facts and will use a Kajava Mama pour over coffee maker to get the best cup to start your day.
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