Reading material
The history and appeal of coffee
The history and appeal of coffee
- A global culture born from a single bean -
Coffee is now a drink loved all over the world. It is deeply rooted in the lives of many people, whether as an essential cup to wake you up in the morning or to brighten up conversations with friends. But how did this cup of coffee, which we all enjoy so naturally, come into being, how did it spread, and why does it continue to be so appealing? Behind it lies a rich history spanning hundreds of years and a story woven by the lives of people. In this article, we will carefully unravel the history and appeal of coffee, delving deep into it in approximately 10,000 characters.
An origin story that begins in Ethiopia
The origins of coffee date back to the highlands of Ethiopia in Africa. According to legend, a goatherd boy named Kaldi saw his goats eating red berries and hopping around energetically, and discovered that the fruit had special powers. While it is unclear whether this "Legend of Kaldi" is historically accurate, it has spread around the world as a symbolic story about the origins of coffee.
In fact, coffee trees have grown wild in parts of Ethiopia since ancient times, and people have used the fruit for food and drink. It took a long time for the current style of roasting the beans, grinding them into powder, and extracting them with hot water to emerge, but it was in this region that the coffee plant first became involved in human life.
Spread to Islamic countries and religious culture
Coffee also became an important drink early on in the Arabian Peninsula, located across the Red Sea from Ethiopia. Coffee cultivation and consumption became particularly popular in Yemen around the 15th century, and the port of Mocha became known as a center of the coffee trade. The name "Mocha Coffee," which originated here, remains synonymous with high-quality coffee to this day.
In Islamic culture, coffee was deeply connected to religious ceremonies and places of learning. Because alcohol is prohibited in Islam, coffee became popular as a drink to wake people up and aid in contemplation and prayer. Coffee houses called "kafhane" sprang up around mosques in major cities such as Mecca and Cairo, and became places where people could gather and discuss things.
During this period, coffee was not merely a luxury item, but also played a role as a drink that supported intellectual activities and faith.
Introduction to Europe and the birth of cafe culture
In the 16th century, coffee was introduced to Europe through the Ottoman Empire. It first attracted attention in Venice, Italy. Coffee beans were brought to Venice, a hub of Eastern trade, and while they were treated like medicine, they gradually became established as a luxury item.
In the 17th century, coffee houses spread to England and France, with many opening in London and Paris. These places served as salons where merchants, scholars, and politicians gathered to discuss and exchange information. London's coffee houses were known as "penny universities," and were places where people could discuss current affairs and academic subjects over a cup of coffee, and they were also deeply connected to newspapers and publishing culture.
Cafe culture flourished in France, developing into an intellectual space where artists and writers gathered. Even today, the cafes on the streets of Paris continue to fascinate people as historical symbols.
Colonial period and expansion of coffee cultivation
From the 18th to the 19th century, coffee spread around the world along with the colonial policies of European powers. The Netherlands began large-scale cultivation in Java (now Indonesia), and France expanded coffee production in Saint-Domingue (now Haiti) in the Caribbean. Portugal brought coffee to Brazil, which eventually established the country as the world's largest coffee-producing country.
During this period, coffee became an important commercial crop that moved the global market. However, at the same time, we must not forget that it was cultivated using slave labor and in harsh environments, and that it was sustained at the expense of many sacrifices. The history of coffee harbors human pain behind its prosperity, and this complexity is another aspect we can learn from.
The Industrial Revolution and Popularization
The Industrial Revolution of the 19th century dramatically changed the way coffee was enjoyed. Developments in steam engines and transportation technology made it possible to steadily transport fresh beans from distant producing areas, bringing coffee into the reach of a wider range of people.
The birth of the espresso machine was also a revolutionary event in the history of coffee. The first espresso machine, invented in Italy in 1901, established a new style of brewing strong coffee in a short amount of time using pressure. This led to the further evolution of cafe culture, with bars and cafeterias becoming central parts of urban life.
The history of coffee in Japan
It is said that coffee was first introduced to Japan during the Edo period. It was first brought by the Dutch through Dejima in Nagasaki during the country's isolationist policy, but it did not become popular among the general public at the time. It was not until the Meiji period that coffee began to spread in earnest.
In 1888, Japan's first authentic cafe, Kafusakan, opened in Ueno, Tokyo, and coffee culture began to spread. From then on, "coffee shop culture" flourished from the Taisho to Showa eras, and dark roast coffee brewed using a cloth filter became established as a style unique to Japan. The pure coffee shops of the Showa era were closely related to jazz, literature, and art, and helped to develop a coffee culture unique to Japan.
After the war, instant coffee became popular, allowing people to easily enjoy coffee at home. Then, in the 21st century, the wave of specialty coffee surged, and new styles such as light roast and single origin coffee are becoming established in Japan.
Rediscovering Modern Specialty Coffee and Its Charm
Today, coffee has gone beyond being merely a luxury item and is enjoyed as a "cultural experience ." Specialty coffee is highly transparent about its origin, farm, and processing method, and emphasis is placed on bringing out the beans' natural characteristics. It is now possible to enjoy and compare a variety of flavors, such as the fruitiness of light roasts and the sweetness of natural processing.
Values such as sustainability and fair trade are also part of the appeal of coffee. Paying farmers a fair price and choosing environmentally friendly farming methods means that consumers can enjoy drinking coffee while also making a contribution to society.
What is the appeal of coffee?
The appeal of coffee lies first and foremost in its diversity . A single bean can have a completely different flavor depending on the degree of roasting and extraction method, and coffee from a different region can become a completely different drink. Coffee is often compared to wine because it is a drink that strongly reflects terroir.
Secondly, coffee is a drink that connects people . From the coffeehouses of ancient Islamic countries to modern cafes, coffee has always been at the heart of human encounters and interactions. Whether it's business negotiations, academic discussions, conversations with friends, or romantic dates, coffee is a part of it all.
Furthermore, coffee is a ritual that enriches our daily lives . The moment when we start our day with a cup in the morning, the quiet time spent concentrating on the brewing process, the comfort of being enveloped in the aroma - these are the things that give rhythm to life and calm the mind.
Summary: History and future in every cup
Looking back at the history of coffee, we see that it is not just the progress of a beverage, but an epic story deeply connected to the development of human culture and society. Beginning with the legend of a goat herder in Ethiopia, coffee supported faith in the Islamic world, created a forum for intellectuals to gather in Europe, became a commodity that drove the global economy during the colonial period, fostered tea-drinking culture in Japan, and continues to renew its appeal as a specialty coffee in modern times.
And each cup of coffee embodies universal values such as diversity, human connections, and the power to enrich everyday life. Drinking coffee also places you in a vast cultural flow that continues from the past to the future.
Coffee will continue to evolve, creating new appeal and adding color to our lives. It is this depth that makes coffee so beloved around the world.
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