Who Discovered Coffee?

Coffee comes from Ethiopia. It was discovered some 1500 years ago or so by a young man with a very interesting story. His name was Kaldi, and he was a simple man until he discovered this wonderful black elixir that is now one of the most popular beverages on the planet!

A Brief History of Coffee – The Origins of Coffee – Goats, Cherries and Monestaries

Coffee… and the Dancing Goats

The origins of coffee are surrounded by legend. One of the most famous legends dates back to 600 AD. This particular legend recognizes Kaldi, an Ethiopian goat-herder. One day, while out walking with his normally lethargic goats, Kaldi noticed they were dancing on their hind legs and bleating with glee. Wondering why, he began to look around to see what they had been eating to change their moods. Finally, he also noticed that they had been feeding on the red berries of a shiny dark-green shrub nearby.

Kaldi decided to sample the bright red berries himself. He experienced an immediate boost in his spirits and energies. Having never felt something like this before, and puzzled by it, he took some of the berries to the local monastery where the head monk put them through various experiments. These including parching, crushing in a mortar and pestle and stirring in boiling water. After some time, the beans yielded a fragrant and tasty beverage. The monk, excited with his find, termed the beverage “heaven sent,” and decided to give it to all of the monks in order to keep them from falling asleep during their evening prayers.

The “heaven-sent” beverage was came to be known as “coffee,” and it quickly spread from the monastery to the town and eventually throughout the world.