The First Coffee Bean of All

All of the different types of coffee beans have a common ancestor. We've prepared an article with information that traces the origins of them all.

Nowadays, coffee is such a basic commodity that it is hard to imagine a time when it was not one of the most consumed beverages in the world. Unbelievable, right? To get to where it is today, it has had to travel a long historical road. Its origins may be a bit mysterious, so tracking down the first cultivated coffee bean is not an easy task. However, there are several stories about the discovery of coffee and its properties, which later led to the spread of this important bean.

The stories behind the first coffee beans

The journey of the coffee bean and the acquisition of the taste for the products based on it, has been long. For example, it was not until the 13th century that beans began to be roasted by the Muslim community that used their properties as a stimulant in the long hours of prayer. Muslims managed to maintain a monopoly on coffee, and it was only between 1500 and 1600 that the coffee plant left Africa to spread around the world. It is said that Baba Budan, an Indian pilgrim, was the one who achieved that feat by leaving Mecca with fertile beans fastened to a strap across his abdomen.

Whatever the true story behind the first coffee bean outside Africa, the reality is that it was the Dutch who set up the first coffee farm, and it is from that moment onwards that the coffee market reaches all regions of the world, including America and Asia. After all these events, coffee gained more and more followers, and several coffee houses were opened all over Europe.

In short, the success of coffee has been historical! But where did it come from? Where did the passion for coffee beans and their properties start? One of the best-known stories refers to an Ethiopian goat herder of the 9th century named Kaldi, who after seeing that his goat was full of vitality and energy when eating the red fruits of a bush, decided to try these red berries himself.

Once Kaldi experienced the effects of the stimulants, he decided to take the fruits to a monk in a monastery that eventually threw them into the fire, generating a toasted smell. After that, the monks of that community began to roast the beans and grind them to mix them with water to produce an exceptional drink.

Another theory places the discovery of the properties of coffee beans in the hands of a Yemenite Sufi mystic called Ghothul Akbar Nooruddin Abu al-Hasan ash-Shadhili. This character would have traveled to Ethiopia and spotted birds with a lot of vitality. Seeing the fruit these animals ate, he decided to taste them too, discovering the properties that they possessed.

Finally, the latest story about the discovery of coffee refers to Omar, an Abu al-Hasan ash-Shadhili disciple, who was recognized for his ability to heal through prayer. One day he was exiled from Mocha to a desert cave and to avoid starvation he decided to try the red fruit of a tree, but it tasted very bitter. Then he tried to roast it, but it was tough; finally, he put those roasted beans to boil in water and discovered a stimulating drink that helped him survive. After the episode of the miracle drug, Omar was called back to the city.

In the end, the story of the first coffee bean may be a mystery. However, uncovered evidence indicates that knowledge about coffee and its properties may date back to the 15th century in Yemen.

World history shows the characteristics and traditions that represent us today. In the field of coffee, it is not different, and we are very aware of this at That Coffee Roasters. If you want to know more about our traditions and origins of coffee, follow us through our social networks and learn why coffee has been one of the most valued drinks in the world since ancient times.

All things begin somewhere. That principle applies to coffee beans too, and to prove it, we've collected some information that we're sure you will find very interesting!

That Coffee Roasters

Phone Number: (305) 821-8811

2697 W. 76 Street, Hialeah, Florida 33016

Facebook: That Coffee Roasters

Instagram: thatcoffeeroasters