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Key historical milestones timeline

In this topic you will see the major milestones in coffee’s journey from its legendary Ethiopian origins to its modern global presence, highlighting the turning points that shaped its cultural, economic, and social significance.

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Article 6 of 9 in Origins & History of Coffee/
Key historical milestones timeline

Legendary Beginnings

  • 9th century (legend): Kaldi, the Ethiopian goatherd, observes his goats energized after eating coffee cherries.
  • 15th century: Coffee cultivation and use recorded in Yemen, particularly among Sufi communities for night prayers.

Expansion Through the Islamic World

  • 16th century: Coffee spreads across the Middle East; first public coffeehouses open in Mecca, Cairo, and Constantinople.
  • 1570s: Coffee arrives in Venice via Ottoman trade, sparking initial European interest.

Europe and the Rise of Coffeehouses

  • 1645: First European café opens in Venice.
  • 1650s–1670s: Coffeehouses spread in Oxford, London, and Paris, becoming centers of intellectual and political life.
  • 1686: Café Procope opens in Paris, a hub for Enlightenment thinkers.

Coffee in the Americas

  • 1720: Gabriel de Clieu brings coffee plant to Martinique, establishing Caribbean cultivation.
  • 1727: Coffee introduced to Brazil, which later becomes the world’s largest producer.
  • 18th century: Haiti (Saint-Domingue) becomes top global exporter until the Haitian Revolution.

Industrialization and Modernization

  • 19th century: Industrial roasters and packaging expand coffee’s reach; instant coffee emerges (George Washington, 1909).
  • 1901: Luigi Bezzera patents the first espresso machine in Italy.
  • 1938: Nestlé develops Nescafé, making soluble coffee globally popular.
  • 1940s: Achille Gaggia’s lever machine creates modern espresso with crema.

Global Coffee Culture

  • 1971: First Starbucks opens in Seattle, signaling the rise of Second Wave coffee culture.
  • 1990s–2000s: Third Wave movement redefines coffee as artisanal, with focus on origin, direct trade, and specialty quality.

Present Day

  • Coffee is the second most traded commodity after oil.
  • Consumed daily by billions, it is central to social rituals, global trade, and cultural identity.

Summary

From a Sufi devotional drink to a global cultural and economic force, coffee’s milestones chart its transformation into one of the world’s most influential beverages.

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Coffee Basics Nerds

Written by : Coffee Basics Nerds

Expert coffee historians and brewing enthusiasts dedicated to sharing the rich heritage and techniques behind your perfect cup of coffee.

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