We tell you the story of… Coffee
As faithful consumers of one of the most popular drinks in the world, it is our duty to know more about it. Well, obviously we are referring to the coffee, which has been able to unite cultures and become part of the morning ritual of many. The same one that continues to evolve as the years go by, through preparations and desserts.
In case you didn't know, coffee was born in Ethiopia and was discovered in the 15th century thanks to a goat herder. Thanks to its peculiar and delicious flavor, it became popular in just over two centuries, when it was already a widely consumed product in Middle Eastern and European countries. A wonderful journey that made the energy grain a phenomenon not only as a product, but as the meeting and conversation center for many citizens in different latitudes of the world.
We know you want to learn more about the intriguing history of coffee, from the moment it was discovered to the present day. That is why, since Incapto Coffee, we invite you to continue reading and discover each of these data, thanks to the help of our panel of experts.
Know the legend of coffee
We wanted to delve a little into the history of coffee, where in addition to revealing its origins and how it spread throughout Africa. As well as in the rest of the countries that are part of the coffee belt. Well, in case you didn't know, this delicious drink was not born in Colombia as some think, but it is one of the great producers, if not the most famous.
According to legend, a shepherd named Kaldi (at least that's what the story goes) used to take his goats to graze on the slopes of Kaffa, in Abyssinia (Ethiopia). One day, his animals got lost but after a long search he was able to find them. The man noticed that there was something strange with them, since they were quite imperative and somewhat agitated. It was at that moment that he wondered if it had been because of the red fruits that they consumed. Doubt that he resolved once he tried them and verified them its energizing effects, after having lost sleep.
The pastor decided to share this with his loved ones in the town, causing the word to spread until it reached the ears of an imam from a nearby mosque. The religious man, interested in wild fruits, decides to try them as an infusion, where he actually knows their properties of keeping him awake all night. Therefore, he offers it to his disciples so that they would not be drowsy during the night prayer.
As time went by, its consumption spread throughout the world, and we can even get it in different presentations.
How did it expand?
For those who did not know, the coffee It is one of the most consumed drinks in the world along with tea and water. In fact, it is already considered as the second raw material most traded after oil.
Despite being so common today, there was a time when coffee was not part of humanity's morning routine. Well, not even one cup was the energy boost needed to get through the day. In the United States, for example, coffee was behind tea. The traditional British drink was popular, until North American society began to reject the presence of the English and their customs.
As a curious fact, in the Boston Tea Party, some 46 tons of tea were thrown into the sea as an act of rejection of the English crown's taxes on trade in the United States. Even for some in North America, preferring tea was unpatriotic, and so the black drink from the Arabian Peninsula took the empty place of cups and teapots.
When did it become so popular?
First of all, we can say that it all started in the Civil War or the Civil War in the United States. You're probably wondering, what does this have to do with drinking? Well, it turns out that they considered coffee as a vital resource for soldiers, which is why the army bought it by the ton.
They considered that consuming coffee gave a great boost in morale and impetus. However, civilians saw the drink as a product that was just being positioned as an everyday product. Let's say that it was not as easy or as quick to prepare as it is today.
That is why, at that time, advertising was specifically aimed at how to prepare a good coffee without leaving home. Years later, in 1901, a Japanese chemist named Satori Kato, discovered a way to make instant coffee. Kato had the patents but the inventor George Washington, was the first to mass produce it. It was an innovation that saved a lot of time when preparing it and the result was practically the same for everyone.
Let's say that this was another factor that boosted coffee consumption exponentially. That's when it starts the first wave of coffee, where the important thing was not the flavor but the volume and the caffeine kick.
Throughout the First World War, its consumption intensified. In fact, the most popular things at that time were boxes of cigarettes and coffee, being like daily bread and water for the soldiers.
Years passed, and civilization still hadn't learned from its mistakes, so World War II arrived. But how did this affect coffee consumption? On the one hand, a large part of the men of productive age enlisted in the army, which, as we have pointed out, consumed the drink by tons and at any time of the day. And on the other hand, no matter how sad it may sound (which it is), wars generate many needs that the industry is prepared to cover. As a result of the situation, women put aside their duties at home to get to work because a lot of labor was required.
The “coffee breaks” arrive
With so many people working, the concept of “coffee-breaks” arises, which are those well-known coffee breaks. This being the reason why the masses of workers began to unionize. As well as improvements in general working conditions.
Breaks during work hours were almost mandatory, specifically in the 1950s, between 70% and 80% of Americans consumed coffee during work.
What other factor made coffee the most famous drink?
Believe it or not: television and advertisements. Well, in the mid-60s, most American homes had a television. You could say that, seeing it so much, the habit of having a cup of coffee every day was reaffirmed. Even at that time was when the popular Juan Valdez, the coffee farmer who rode a donkey through the coffee plantations of Colombia.
But we have bad news for you, and that is that Juan Valdés does not exist, he was only an American “product” intended for the sale of coffee.
We continue reviewing the first steps of coffee, with the second and third waves. By the end of the 20th century, it was no longer enough to have a daily cup of caffeine, as it had become a valuable and somewhat luxurious product. Consumers were looking for different things, such as a variety of flavors, coffee combinations, and that's when Starbucks, one of the main chains, appeared. Where their coffees, which to tell the truth almost didn't taste like the bean itself, began to become popular.
In addition to the new flavors, coffee left the family table and began to be sought out in stores. Surprisingly, the story of how it all began was repeated: Going to share a good cup in a welcoming, public establishment was back in fashion, something that this time was here to stay.
When is the third wave introduced?
Since 2002, the term third wave of coffee began to be used. Being a movement, a demand for true coffee lovers, it is no use telling us that we are drinking a selection of the best beans in the world.
Now we want to know more and at the same time, we value 100% the effort of coffee farmers to obtain coffee beans without defects. We have realized that all coffee is not black and bitter. But depending on many factors such as the country of origin, the area, the farm, the altitude, the processing process, the roasting curve, the preparation method and the recipe used, the final flavor of a cup will vary greatly. You could say that right now, we are in that part of history.
Don't forget that coffee has gained popularity because it is a product without contaminants and without being encapsulated. Well, as we always say, the best way to consume it is freshly ground, since that way we can enjoy each of its properties and live a delicious and responsible experience.
