A brief history of Coffee

If you love coffee, you are probably aware that there are many different countries who specialize in the production of coffee, and that its flavor might differ depending on the origin of the coffee itself. Coffee has some rather strict climatic requirement in order to be grown at high standards. This is the reason why coffee can actually only be grown successfully in certain parts of the world.

Today, coffee is a readily available commodity in your home and there are many amazing ways to enjoy it with Tassimo pods holders, you can brew delicious cups every day and explore many different flavor options.

The countries and regions that can host viable coffee farmers are often located around the equator. The coffee-producing region of the world is often known as “the coffee belt” because it circles the world in a belt fashion. The area includes countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Africa is believed to be the place where coffee originated, as the first coffee plants can be traced back to Ethiopia, where coffee culture is still a huge social phenomenon to this very day. The first outsiders who began to appreciate the flavor and properties of coffee were from the Middle East. Coffee drinking became a vital part of the culture in many countries in the area, including Turkey and Georgia, where coffee is still particularly popular.

Initially, Europeans didn’t quite catch up on coffee: many regarded it as a Muslim drink and unfit for a Christian consumer! However, coffee became quite popular in the old world, with coffee shops eventually appearing across the continent, including in countries such as England, Italy, and France.

Ironically, coffee was very popular in England before the colonial age, but eventually, tea became the dominant beverage, perhaps due to the fact that tea leaves were predominant exports in countries that had been colonized by the British, including India and some regions of South East Asia.

Ironically, the fact that tea was so popular in England became one of the many reasons why coffee became so popular in the United States. Following events such as the “Boston Tea Party” and a widespread nationalistic sentiment in the new world, most people felt a need to repel tea drinking, as it was seen as a symbol of British colonialism. Coffee drinking became an integral part of American life, and the US is one of the world’s largest coffee consumers, followed by Scandinavian countries, who also developed a particular fondness for the drink.

Over the past couple of centuries, coffee became one of the world’s most popular drinks, and not only. Coffee became an important ingredient in many culinary traditions. Italy is well-known for its delicious coffee-based desserts, including the world famous Tiramisu, a dessert made with coffee, eggs, and whipped cream.

People in different countries enjoy coffee in different ways: In European countries facing the Mediterranean, including Italy, Spain or France, people mainly enjoy espresso based drinks, with a passion for bold, rich and earthy flavors.

Coffee drinkers in the far east are known to love sweet coffee drinks, often adding loads of sugar and sweetened condensed milk to their coffee drinks. A good example? Iced Vietnamese coffee or the famous “Coffee Bonbon”, popular through South East Asia.

The Middle East is still home to one of the oldest coffee brewing techniques. Turkish coffee is brewed directly in the cup, by grinding the roasted beans as finely as possible and adding boiling water. The process produces a foamy texture and a nuanced flavor that highlights the character of the coffee and the roasting process.