The History Of Coffee.

Coffee: it's the lifeblood that keeps us going in the morning (or, let's be real, all day long). But have you ever stopped to think about where this magical elixir came from?

It all started in Ethiopia, where legend has it that a goat herder named Kaldi discovered the energizing effects of coffee beans. Apparently, Kaldi noticed that his goats were getting a little extra pep in their step after eating the beans from a certain tree. Being the curious type, Kaldi decided to give it a try himself and found that the beans had the same effect on him.

From there, coffee made its way to the Arab world and was cultivated and traded. In the 13th century, it was being grown in Yemen and was even used in Sufi monasteries as a drink to help keep the monks alert during long hours of prayer (which, let's be real, is pretty much what we use it for today).

But it wasn't until the 16th century that coffee really started to make a name for itself in Europe. The first coffee house opened in Venice in 1645 and before you could say "espresso," coffee houses were popping up all over major cities like London and Paris. These places became hubs for socialization and intellectual discussion, with people coming from all walks of life to drink coffee, discuss ideas, and maybe even hatch a revolution or two. They were even called "penny universities," because for the price of a cup of joe, you could learn just about anything.

Fast forward to the 18th and 19th centuries, and coffee had become a major commodity with countries like Brazil, Colombia, and Indonesia becoming major producers. And now, coffee is grown in more than 50 countries and is enjoyed by millions of people every day.

So the next time you're sipping on a latte or knocking back an espresso, just remember: you're participating in a rich, centuries-old tradition that spans the globe. Cheers to that!