History of coffee
The coffee plant originated in Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa, Where the plant grows wild. But the propagation of the coffee bean began in Yemen, formerly Arabia, some say as early as AD 575, but certainly was well developed by the 15th Century.
There are a few different legends as to how coffee was discovered however the most popular is that of the 'dancing goats'. A young goat herder called Kaldi, after seeing his usually sleepy goats eat certain berries then become wildly animated, tried some for him self with similar effects. He shared his discovery with the local monks, who were much more alert during their evening prayers.
Originally coffee was eaten as a whole berry. Later it was crushed and mixed with fat then a type of wine was made with the fermented fruit. Around 1000 AD a drink was made with the dried fruit, but roasting did not become popular until the 13th Century. Roasting was probably discovered by accident when some berries fell into the camp fire.
As popularity increased, the rulers of Arabia realised the value of their export. Berries were not allowed out of the country unless they were first steeped in boiling water or parched to destroy their power of germination. This was a difficult task especially with so many pilgrims journeying to Mecca. It was eventually a pilgrim, Baba Budan, who first smuggled some viable seed berries out of the country, then returned to his home in India sometime during the 17th Century.
The first coffee plant to be taken to Europe was stolen by Dutch traders in 1616. From this point, cultivation outside Arabia began to flourish. The Dutch set up plantations on their colonies of Ceylon, Java, Timor, Sumatra, Celebes and Bali. With time the French managed to join in with a single plant that parented the millions of coffee bushes in the West Indies and Latin America. Soon after, Spain's West Indies colonies joined in, then Britain cultivated Jamaica in 1730 and India in 1840. At this time Brazil acquired a plant; often said through the attention of a Governors wife towards a Brazilian soldier in French Guyana. As legend goes, he received a coffee seedling in a bunch of flowers from his admirer. This gift was the start of the greatest coffee empire of the world. Today, Brazil produces 60% of the world's total coffee production.
Historic Timeline of coffee
| 10th Century | Nomadic tribes discover that the fruit was edible and that the seeds would be grown and mixed with animal fats to produce a high energy food |
| 13th to 14th Century | Coffee bean was introduced into Arabia via Yemen and the drinking of coffee became a habit |
| 1475 | Kiva Han was the first coffee house to open in Turkey |
| 1511 | Coffee was forbidden for its stimulating effect by the Orthodox Imams at a Theological Court in Mecca |
| 1524 | The decision was overturned by an order of the Turkish Sultan Selim 1 |
| 1532 | A ban is introduced into Cairo |
| 1600 | Coffee was baptized by Pope Clement VIII |
| 1630 | Venice received it's first shipload from Italy |
| 1645 | First coffee house opens in Italy |
| 1675 | It was estimated that there were 3000 coffee houses in England |
| 1683 | First coffee house opens in Vienna |
| 1688 | North Americans begin to enjoy coffee by adding sugar or honey and cinnamon |
| 1690 | The Dutch are the first to transport and cultivate coffee commercially by smuggling a plant out of Mocha and into Ceylon and the East Indian colony of Java |
| 1696 | Coffee replaced "Must" which is like a beer. As a breakfast Drink Coffee becomes very popular because of a levy imposed on tea by the British |
| 1727 | Lt Col Francisco de Melo Palheta smuggled seeds from French Guina into Brazil |
| 1753 | Egbert Douwes began selling coffee, tea and tobacco in a small shop called " De Witte O's" ( The White Ox ), in Jour, The Netherlands |
| 1780 | Egbert Douwes transfers ownership to his eldest son Douwe Egberts. Gradually Douwes and his descendants build a company that would grow to become the Dutch market leader for coffee and tea |
| 1901 | Luiggi Bezzera patented a machine which used steam pressure to force water through ground coffee |
| 1903 | Desidero Pavoni acquired the patent and began commercial production and distribution throughout Europe |
| 1948 | Cimbali introduced the hydraulic machine which was an advancement in portioning the flow |
| 1960 | Faema introduced the E61 which employed an electronic pump to supply hot pressurised water. It had a heat exchange which controlled the water temperature below boiling |
| 1978 | Douwe Egberts is taken over by Sara Lee Corporation |
| 1988 | Emmanual Drivas and Emmanual Kokoris were searching for a late night cup of coffee and not just a coffee, a good coffee. They were unsuccessful in their search |
| Late 1989 | They both decided to create a place where Australians could meet within their local community at hours that suited them, and of course drink excellent coffee |
| 1989 | The first Coffee Club opens in Eagle Street Pier on the banks of the Brisbane River. Their goal was to provide "Good food, Great service and Excellent coffee" and above all a welcoming and relaxed meeting place. |
| 1999 | The Coffee Club and Douwe Egberts develop a strong business partnership with a mission to "Excellent Coffee" |
| 2008 | The Coffee Club has opened more than 180 stores across Australia and New Zealand |