A History Of Coffee....
Timeline
c 850
First known discovery of coffee berries.
Legend of goat herder Kaldi of Ethiopia who notices
goats are friskier after eating red berries of a
local shrub. Experiments with the berries himself
and begins to feel happier.
c 1100
The coffee first trees are cultivated on the
Arabian peninsula. Coffee is first roasted and boiled
by Arabs making "qahwa" --- a beverage made from plants.
1475
The worlds first coffee shop opens in Constantinople.
It is followed by the establishment of two coffee houses
in 1554.
1598
The word "coffee" entered English via Italian caffè. This word was created via Turkish kahve, which in turn came into being via Arabic qahwa, a truncation of qahhwat al-bun or wine of the bean. Islam prohibits the use of alcohol as a beverage, and coffee provided a suitable alternative to wine.
c 1600
Coffee enters Europe through the port
of Venice. The first coffeehouse opens in Italy in
1654.
1607
Coffee is introduced to the New World by Captain
John Smith, founder of Virginia at Jamestown... Some Canadian
historians claim it arrived in previously settled Canada.
1652
The first coffeehouse opens in England. Coffeehouses
are called "penny universities" (a penny is charged for
admission and a cup of coffee). Edward Lloyd's coffeehouse
opens in 1688. It eventually becomes Lloyd's of London,
the world's best known insurance company. The word “TIPS” is
coined in an English coffee house: A sign reading “To
Insure Prompt Service” (TIPS) was place by a cup. Those
desiring prompt service and better seating threw a coin
into a tin.
1672
The opening of the first Parisian cafe dedicated
to serving coffee. In 1713, King Louis XIV is presented
with a coffee tree. It is believed that sugar was first
used as an additive in his court.
1683
The first coffeehouse opens in Vienna. The
Turks, defeated in battle, leave sacks of coffee behind.
1690
The Dutch become the first to transport and
cultivate coffee commercially. Coffee is smuggled out of
the Arab port of Mocha and transported to Ceylon and East
Indies for cultivation.
1721
The first coffeehouse opens in Berlin.
1723
Coffee Plants are introduced in the Americas
for cultivation. Gabriel de Clieu, a French naval officer,
transports a seedling to Martinique. By 1777, 1920 million
coffee plants are cultivated on the island.
1727
The Brazilian coffee industry gets its start
from seedlings smuggled out of Paris.
1750
One of Europe's first coffeehouses, Cafe Greco,
opens in Rome. By 1763, Venice has over 2,000 coffee shops.
1822
The prototype of the first espresso machine
is created in France.
1885
A process of using natural gas and hot air
becomes the most popular method of roasting coffee.
c 1900
Kaffeeklatsch, afternoon coffee, becomes popular
in Germany.
1905
The first commercial espresso machine is manufactured
in Italy.
1908
The invention of the worlds first drip coffeemaker.
Melitta Bentz makes a filter using blotting paper.
1933
Dr. Ernest Illy develops the first automatic
espresso machine.
1938
Nescafé instant coffee is invented
by the Nestlé company as it assists the Brazilian
government in solving its coffee surplus problem.
1945
Achilles Gaggia perfects the espresso machine
with a piston that creates a high pressure extraction to
produce a thick layer of crema.
1991
Caffè Carissimi Canada, a network
of espresso service providers is formed in Canada, modeled
after a visit to Franco Carissimi (roaster and equipment
manufacturer) in Bergamo Italy. It becomes the fastest
growing network of private and independant super automatic
machines providers in Canada.
1995
Coffee is the worlds most popular beverage.
More than 400 billion cups are consumed each year. It is
a world commodity that is second only to oil.
You can get much more history on
coffee by going to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_coffee
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