CREEKS CUPPA STORIES

The History of Coffee: From Ethiopian Highlands to Your Cup

The story of coffee begins in the highlands of Ethiopia, where legend tells of a goatherd named Kaldi who noticed his goats becoming unusually energised after eating coffee cherries. While this tale is widely shared, it remains a legend rather than a verified historical fact. From this ancient origin, the drink gradually moved beyond the African plateau. By the fifteenth century, coffee was being cultivated in what is now Yemen. During the sixteenth century, its popularity spread across the Middle East, reaching Iran, Egypt, Syria and Turkey. In these regions, public coffee houses known as qahveh khaneh emerged as social hubs, often described as schools of the wise, where people gathered to talk, play games and enjoy the brew. Coffee eventually crossed into Europe during the seventeenth century. After an initial period of debate over its suitability, Pope Clement VIII gave the drink his approval, helping it gain acceptance across the continent. European coffee houses quickly became known as penny universities, offering a low-cost place to learn and debate. By the middle of that century, London alone hosted more than three hundred coffee houses. Some of these, such as Edward Lloyd’s, would go on to evolve into major institutions, foreshadowing the founding of Lloyd’s of London. The beverage then expanded to the Americas in the early eighteenth century. A seedling was transported to Martinique in 1723 by Gabriel de Clieu, and the cultivation later spread to Brazil through Francisco de Mello Palheta. A significant turning point came in 1773, when a tax on tea prompted by the Boston Tea Party encouraged colonial preference for coffee instead. By the early nineteenth century, coffee had become one of the world’s most sought-after export crops, second only to crude oil in global trade importance. Throughout this period, coffee houses served as early social hubs and incubators of business, fostering conversation and commerce. The modern coffee scene continues this long tradition. Independent neighbourhood cafes, like Creeks Cuppa in Exeter, carry on the legacy of coffee houses as places where people meet, work and connect. You can explore more about this local spot at Creeks Cuppa. For those interested in the drink, understanding its roots can offer a clearer perspective on how a simple bean travelled across continents and centuries to reach your cup. Scientifically, the two main commercially cultivated species are Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora, known as robusta. Robusta is known for being hardier and growing at lower elevations, with higher caffeine content, lower acidity and a fuller, earthier body due to pyrazine compounds, which is why it is widely used in soluble coffee and blends.