The History of Coffee
No coffee experience is complete without knowing the story behind the black drink that has conquered the world. Join us on a journey through time and continents.
The legend of the goat Kaldi (circa year 850)
It all started in Ethiopia sometime in the 9th century. A goatherd named Kaldi discovered that his goats became unusually energetic after eating red berries from a certain bush. He took the berries to a nearby monastery. The monks' abbot boiled them – and was very disappointed by the bitter taste. Annoyed, he threw the berries into the fire. Suddenly, a wonderful aromatic scent filled the room. The monks retrieved the roasted berries, crushed them, and poured hot water over them. The world’s first cup of coffee was born.
From Ethiopia to Arabia and Europe
Over the next centuries, coffee spread from the Ethiopian highlands to Yemen, where it was cultivated systematically. The word “coffee” comes from the Arabic “qahwa.” The first public coffeehouses opened in Mecca and later in Constantinople – quickly becoming social gathering places.
In 1615, coffee reached Europe. It was met with great skepticism – some called it “the devil’s drink.” Pope Clement VIII tasted it and reportedly blessed it with the words: “It is so good that it would be a sin to let the unbelievers have it alone.” In 1650, the first coffeehouse opened in Oxford, and in 1683, Vienna’s coffeehouses began after the Turks’ failed siege.
Revolution in the Colonies and the Modern Era
European powers smuggled live coffee trees out of Yemen and planted them all over the world. Brazil became the world's largest producer – partly thanks to a Portuguese officer who, in 1727, seduced the governor's wife to bring home a single cutting.
Today, we talk about “third wave coffee” – where coffee is treated like wine: focusing on origin, terroir, and light roasting that highlights the bean's natural flavor nuances.
This is exactly the philosophy we live by at BloomVik
We give you the tools to take full control of the flavor journey – from roasting to cup.
From an Ethiopian goat to your morning cup
Coffee has survived bans, wars, smuggling, and the pope’s blessing. It has created coffeehouses, revolutions, and countless reasons to meet.
Now it’s your turn to become part of the story.
☕ Here’s to the next 1200 years of coffee – and to you shaping its flavor yourself.
