The Coffee Bazaar welcomes you to our world of Coffee Reviews and Coffee Related Products, one of the most popular beverages in the world. Where do we begin, probably the best place is at the beginning Coffee History. The word coffee is believed to have derived from Kaffa, a town located in the East African country of Ethiopia, It is estimated to have been discovered around 800 A.D. and there are many stories and legends associated with its discovery.
One of the stories associated with coffee’s history describes how a monk saw a herd of goats who were dancing from one shrub to another, grazing on the cherry-red berries containing coffee beans. The monk was amazed at the goat’s behaviour as a result of eating the beans. He picked some of the berries for himself and his fellow monks and that night they all enjoyed what they are later said to described as a ‘divine stimulation’.
Historical evidence also exists about how the Africans of the same period used the coffee plant in many different ways. Africans the equivalent of what can be called primitive ‘Power Bars’ made of coffee and animal fat as a stimulant. They also produced a coffee wine from the berry pulp. With the advance of civilisation and trade coffee moved out northwards into Egypt and Arabia and then slowly over the coming centuries, making its way to the rest of the world.
Coffee, as we probably recognise today came into existence in about 1000 ad this is when it was first roasted and brewed. By the 13th Century, coffee was starting to become more popular. It is said that the Muslim holy men found it a very useful drink keeping its worshippers attentive and stimulated. As peoples travelled far and wide the bean travelled with them and soon became a trading commodity of value. That the Arabians valued and protected as they did not want to share the plant with the world. To protect the secret of the coffee plant they and prevent it being exported to the rest of the world coffee beans were boiled or parched to make them infertile before transportation.
As hard as the Arabians tried to hold on to the Coffee Bean it eventually found its way out of the region to the expanding European colonies in Asia were it was cultivated and produced for export to an eager and demanding European market. The Dutch, were one of the first to exploit the market, with a plantation in Java in early 1600 and hence the expression “Java” in reference to Coffee.
However the Dutch were, not as cautious as the Arabians and they presented many a gift of the black gold “coffee trees” to the aristocracy and well to do of Europe. It is reputed that Louis XIV was presented one such coffee tree in 1714, for his garden in Paris.
The first coffee tree is said to have crossed the Atlantic arriving in the French Colony of Martinique smuggled and very cared for by Gabriel Mathieu de Clieu, a retired French naval officer. Ultimately, the coffee plant flourished in Martinique and over the next 50 years more than 18 million coffee trees were grown to supply an ever increasing demand.
This potential of coffee was long realized by the regions neighbours and by early 1700 Brazil was anxious to get a share of the lucrative coffee bean. Like the Arabians before the French tried in vein to keep the bean to themselves. However eventually in 1727 the plant was smuggled out to the fertile farmlands of Brazil and other central and South American counties like Costa Rica producing a boom in production and therefore enabling the masses to a drink previously only enjoyed by the elite.
Coffee’s popularity grew in America during the Revolutionary War when Tea from Britain had become expensive and in short supply. Initially coffee was considered just a poor substitute for alcohol by the American colonists. By the advent of the American Civil War, coffee had gained a premier position and was by then accepted throughout the America as an everyday popular beverage.
Today Coffee Shops abound across the globe from even the smallest town and airport lounge popular brands like Starbuck’s and Costa Coffee can be found, tempting customers with all types of coffee based drinks. Even popular TV shows like Friends have exploited what has become our insatiable demand for the Coffee Bean.
Friend’s Coffee House Central Perk
We hope that within out site you will find useful on Coffee Reviews and Information about the world of coffee that will enhance your enjoyment of this popular beverage.
