The History of Coffee: How Did We Get Here?

For centuries, coffee has been one of the most popular beverages worldwide. From its humble beginnings in Ethiopia to its now globalized presence, let’s look at how we got here.

In the Beginning . . .

Coffee is believed to have originated in Ethiopia sometime between the 11th and 15th centuries. Legend has it that an Ethiopian shepherd named Kaldi discovered it after noticing his goats acted differently after eating the red berries from a particular plant. Upon trying them, Kaldi was energized by them and shared his discovery with other locals.

Earliest Consumption

The earliest known evidence of coffee consumption dates back to the 9th century when Arabic scholars began brewing coffee for their studies in Makkah and Medina, Saudi Arabia. Between 1400-1600 AD, the popularity of coffee skyrocketed as more people started drinking it recreationally. This led to its cultivation beyond Ethiopia in Yemen and throughout the Arabian Peninsula, followed by its commercialization around 1500 AD.

Increased Availability

By 1650, coffee had also gained tremendous popularity across Europe, with merchants bringing it back from their trips to Turkey and Arabia. It became widely available over time, and coffeehouses were created across Europe to serve coffee drinks made from various spices like cardamom, peppermint, and sage.

In 1723, the first shipment of coffee plants arrived in Jamaica from Martinique. The first shipment of plants arrived in Hawaii in 1813, thanks to Don Francisco de Paula Marín, who brought several bags aboard his ship from Brazil during a stopover at Oahu. Coffea Arabica was introduced into Guatemala soon after and changed the industry forever, with Guatemala now boasting some of the best specialty coffees on Earth today!

Coming to America

Coffee soon made its way stateside to New York City, home to one of America’s oldest continuously operating cafes, established in 1794. Boston saw its first cafe open in 1690! Today, hundreds if not thousands of restaurants can be found all over America, with Americans consuming approximately 400 million cups per day!

So what does this mean for us today? Well, for starters, this means we can enjoy delicious cups of specialty coffee no matter where we are. And thanks to globalization, it is easier than ever to obtain exotic coffees.

The BRISK Difference

At Brisk Coffee Roasters, our philosophy is to consistently deliver the freshest, richest coffees available anywhere. For over 40 years, our goal is always to exceed service and quality expectations and provide 100 percent customer satisfaction.

We follow a simple rule that other coffee companies cannot match: We don’t roast a single bean until you place your order. This means that your coffee is as fresh as it can possibly be. The flavor of coffee peaks after roasting and then diminishes over time, even in a sealed bag, and very quickly once exposed to air, light, and moisture.

If you want to serve the freshest coffee possible to your customers or employees, reach out to the experts at Brisk. We are one of the largest independent roasters in the Southeastern United States, with offices in Tampa, Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, and Atlanta. However, our network of distributors and transportation affiliates allows us to serve customers in Florida, throughout the US, and worldwide. Contact us today for coffee that’s roasted fresh and delivered daily.

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