Coffee, one of the world’s most popular drinks, has a history that stretches back centuries and crosses continents. A famous legend about its origins comes from Ethiopia, where a shepherd named Kaldi observed something curious: his goats seemed more lively after eating the red fruits of a bush. Intrigued, Kaldi tried the fruit and soon felt the same invigorating effect. This story reached a local monk, who started using the beans to keep himself awake during long nights of prayer.
Thus coffee began its journey in Ethiopia, where, before becoming the drink we know, the beans were chewed with fat to provide energy during travel and everyday activities. However, it was in the Arab world that coffee underwent its first major transformation. The beans began to be roasted, ground and boiled, which improved their flavor and released the stimulating properties of caffeine, making the hot drink an even more invigorating experience. This new way of preparing coffee made it an essential drink in cities like Mecca and Cairo.
With its growing popularity in the Middle East, coffee took on a central role in social and religious interactions. Arab trade routes facilitated its spread to other regions. Thus, coffee ceased to be just a food and became a true cultural symbol, appearing at important meetings and discussions.
But how did this drink, which was already so important in the Middle East, manage to conquer the rest of the world?
Expansion across Europe and the rise of coffee houses
In the 17th century, coffee began to conquer Europe, brought by the Arab trade routes, and first reached cities like Venice and Amsterdam. Initially, it was seen as an exotic product, reserved for the upper classes, but it soon spread to other European capitals.
In cities like Paris, London and Vienna, the first coffee houses sprang up, quickly becoming meeting places for intellectuals, artists, philosophers and politicians.
Source:(https://www.ggarchives.com/Epicurean/CoffeeAndTea/EarlyParisianCoffeeHouses-1922.html)
These places were fundamental for the exchange of ideas. In France, for example, some of these meetings in Paris coffee houses ended up being precursors to revolutionary movements, demonstrating the cultural power that coffee has acquired over the years.
The role of coffee in the Americas and the rise of Brazil
While coffee was gaining momentum in Europe, its expansion was also directed towards the New World. In the 18th century, the beverage arrived in the Americas, where it found a suitable environment for cultivation, especially in the Caribbean colonies and later in South America. Coffee arrived in Brazil in 1727 and, with the ideal climate, the country quickly became the world’s largest producer of the beverage, boosting local economies and establishing one of Brazil’s largest export industries. In addition to Brazil, countries such as Colombia and Ethiopia have also experienced significant economic growth due to coffee cultivation, which has generated jobs and development in their regions.
Source:(https://reservagourmet.wordpress.com/tag/historia-do-cafe)
Culturally, coffee has become a central element in Brazilian traditions and social habits, representing a moment of fraternization and union between friends and family. As production increased, Brazil not only supplied the global market, but also played an important role in integrating coffee into different regions around the world. Today, the country remains the largest exporter of coffee, with Brazilian beans reaching all continents and making a strong contribution to the international market.
The cultural influence of coffee: From the United States to Asia and the sustainable movement
In the United States, coffee gained popularity and became part of the American way of life after the boycott of tea at the Boston Tea Party in 1773, when colonists protested against the British Tea Tax by throwing crates of tea into Boston Harbor. Since then, coffee consumption has increased, driven by the search for an alternative to tea, and today it’s hard to imagine everyday American life without a cup of coffee. Chains such as Starbucks, for example, have changed the way the drink is consumed, and the USA is now one of the largest consumers of coffee in the world, with an impressive 400 million cups being consumed every day.
Source:(https://mundodasmarcas.blogspot.com/2006/05/starbucks-cafzinho-globalizado.html#google_vignette)
Coffee has become a symbol of socialization, with coffee shops serving as spaces for meeting and discussion in various communities. While the US stands out as one of the biggest consumers, Vietnam has emerged as one of the main producers, especially of the robusta variety, widely used in soluble coffees. At the same time, consumption has begun to grow in countries such as Japan, China and South Korea, where modern coffee shops have become veritable cultural centers. This expansion in consumption, driven by urbanization and coffee culture, helped solidify the economic importance of coffee in different communities.
The “third wave” of coffee, a movement that values origin, quality and sustainability, has brought a new perspective to the drink, especially in markets such as the United States, Japan and Australia. This movement has brought producers and consumers closer together, promoting fair trade practices and sustainable cultivation methods, such as planting coffee in the shade and preserving forests.
Coffee as a symbol of global connection
More than just a drink, coffee is a link between cultures and continents. The journey, which began in the mountains of Ethiopia and spread around the world, reflects its ability to unite people, traditions and histories.
Every cup of coffee we drink carries with it a piece of this rich global history. At Atlantica Coffee, we are proud to be part of this tradition, connecting Brazilian producers to the world and bringing the best of green coffee to different markets.
Our mission is more than exporting coffee; it’s sharing the wealth of flavors, stories and traditions that accompany each bean. On this International Coffee Day, we celebrate this heritage that continues to inspire and connect generations around the world.