The history of coffee is ridden with many interesting stories and fantastic legends of chance occurrences, political intrigues, and the pursuit of wealth and power. Who knew that a simple cup of brew could offer so much adventure?
To learn the history of coffee is to learn how civilization came to be. One sip from a steaming cup brings you back to a time when the effect of coffee beans was first noticed.
According to the story, a sheep herder from Caffa Ethiopia named Kaldi was tending his sheep one day when he noticed something odd about his sheep. The animals became hyperactive after eating the red "cherries" from a certain plant. Curious as to why they would display such strange behavior, he tried a few of these cherries himself and discovered that he too felt as overactive as his herd.
As the story went, a monk passed by and saw how the sheep herder was acting. After hearing the boy's story about the cherries, he disapproved and scolded him for partaking of the "devil's fruit." However, after trying some himself, he soon realized that the fruit of this shiny green plant could help his brother monks stay awake for their prayers...