A Short History of Coffee

According to legend that dates back over a thousand years, the coffee plant originated in Kaffa, in southwestern Ethiopia, and involves the famous story of the dancing goats.

An Arabian or Ethiopian shepherd named Kaldi found that his goats were frisky and danced in an unusual manner even late at night, after eating the bright red cherries from a dark green leafed shrub. Having seen the effect it had on the goats, he decided to try them for himself, and soon discovered their powerful invigorating effects. An Imam from a nearby monastery learned of this plant and boiled the berries in water and drank the resulting brew. He found he was able to stay awake late into the night, therefore enabling them to perform all-night ceremonies. Word soon spread, and the rest, as they say, is history.

The Persians brought coffee to the port of Mocha in Turkey in the 16^th century and coffee bean exports from Mocha to Europe began in the 17^th century. In 1690, the Dutch began planting coffee in Java. At the same time, cultivated coffee trees grew in greenhouses in Amsterdam and Paris. Coffee then spread to plantations in South America.

There are two main, commercially important coffee species known as Coffea Arabica or Arabica, and Coffea Canaphora, better known as Robusta. The Arabica species is the oldest known species of coffee tree. It is grown in high altitudes, between 1000-2000 meters or 3,280-6,561 feet. Optimal growing conditions include an average rainfall of 150-200 centimeters per year and mild days with cool nights, with yearly temperatures around 15-24C. Arabica beans have a larger, longer, and flatter shape than the Robusta beans. They contain less caffeine and produce a more delicate and acidic flavour. Although they are harder to grow because they are more susceptible to disease, pests and frost, Arabica beans still constitute around 70% of the world’s coffee.

Robusta
The Robusta species tends to be a very ‘hardy’ bean. It is easier to grow and stronger in taste when compared to the Arabica. It constitutes approximately 30% of world production, as its taste is far less superior. Robusta beans are mainly used for blending, where the beans’ full body is more appreciated, or they are used in instant coffee production. The Robusta plants are grown in tropical regions at a low altitude, ranging from sea level to 700 meters, with an average temperature of 24-30C. The beans are smaller in size and have an oval, humpback shape. They are much easier to grow because of their resistance to disease and pests, and are found mainly in West and Central Africa, Southeast Asia and Brazil. In Thailand, they are grown mainly in the Southern provinces of Ranong, Chumporn, Surat Thani and others.