For Whom The Bean Tolls

While its origins are not entirely confirmed, one story favoured by historians dates back to the 9th century. A goat herder in Ethiopia, or possibly Egypt, noticed the effects that the cherries had on his goats and decided to try it for himself.

From there, the cherries and beans became popular in certain religious groups in Africa and the Middle East as it allowed individuals to pray late into the evening. At that time, possibly the 12th and 13th centuries, it was consumed in a variety of forms—raw, ground up, pastes, etc. As it grew in popularity within spiritual communities, it spread along prayer routes and trading routes throughout the Ottoman Empire where it was eventually discovered by Western traders. Over the next 100 to 200 years, coffee slowly made its way back through the Mediterranean and across Europe.

1652 saw the opening of London's first coffee house which has been described as more of a shed than an actual coffee house. While the taste wasn’t popular at first, people enjoyed the feeling, and were also fond of socializing in coffee houses. Notably, it provided an alternative to pubs for business meetings as patrons were kept awake and alert rather than inebriated and forgetful. Some businesses actually started in coffee houses; well-known insurance company, Lloyds of London, for example, began in Lloyd's Coffee Shop in the 18th century.

The 18th and 19th centuries brought coffee's biggest boom as Europeans exported coffee beans and plants to Asia and South America for mass production. Sadly, it became a driving factor behind slavery in countries like Brazil as merchants and businesses were keen on keeping their costs at the very minimum. This continued for decades until the mid-19th century.

Today, coffee is still a vital part of the economies in Brazil, Colombia, and Vietnam. Modern people care about the coffee source, its unique flavour profile, and of course the physical location in which they are drinking it. This is why coffee houses and cafes have persevered as common meeting places for friends, families, and business associates.