Coffee’s flavorful past matches its delicious present. The beverage that so many people today are smitten with has been a favorite since the Arabian Peninsula’s 15th century. It was being grown in the Yemeni district of Arabia, and there is a well-known legend that says a goat herder Kaldi first discovered the potential of these beans.
Here’s everything you need to know about the history of coffee.
The Origins of Coffee
A goat herder Kaldi found out about coffee when he saw that berries from a tree made his goats more active. Kaldi went to the local monastery to share his discovery. But the monastery did not receive Kaldi with open arms. A monk even referred to his coffee beans as “the devil’s work” and burned them.
According to folklore, the roasting beans’ enticing aroma attracted the monks. The monks had begun roasting coffee without realizing it. They quickly discovered the potential of the beans, and coffee was born.
By the 17th century, coffee had become in demand throughout Europe. Some individuals, however, dubbed this drink “satan’s bitter idea.” When coffee arrived in Venice in 1615, the local clergy turned it down. It provoked a heated debate between the general population and the church. To end it, Pope Clement VIII drank coffee and gave it his blessing after sampling it and enjoying it.
Coffee cultivation outside of Arabia became more competitive as demand increased. In the late 1600s, the Dutch got seedlings and, after failing in India, sent them to Batavia, Java, and Indonesia. By the turn of the nineteenth century, coffee had become a major international commodity.
Continuing to the present day, the demand for the beverage shows no signs of slowing down.
Different roasts
As coffee’s popularity has grown over time, so has the number of roasts available. Different flavors cater to a wide range of consumer preferences. Roasts come in three varieties: light, dark, and medium roast coffee.
Light roast coffee
Lightly roasted coffee is ideal for those who like sweet coffee with a fruity aroma. It has less oil on the surface and roasts for less time than a medium or dark roast. Despite the myth surrounding it that it has less caffeine than medium and dark roasts, light-roasted coffee tends to have more caffeine.
Medium roast coffee
Medium-roast coffee is medium brown with a balanced flavor, aroma, and acidity. It boasts the ideal flavor balance, making it the most popular roast of coffee in the United States. It is sometimes referred to as the “American roast” since it is the most commercially popular roast of coffee.
Dark roast coffee
The flavor of darkly roasted coffee is the strongest of all roasts. The outside is oily compared to the light and medium roasts. It has a nice smokey flavor and bitterness, so it’s ideal for people who want a strong kick and a thick mouthfeel. Salty and savory foods pair well with this roast.
Wrap up
From the moment of its production and distribution, coffee has always been a hot commodity despite its contested history. And as long as there are no problems with production, the popularity of roasted coffee will only continue to grow.
