Quick answerCoffee as a drink is first documented in Yemen in the 15th century, where Sufi communities brewed it to stay awake for night prayers. From Yemen it spread to Mecca and Cairo, then across the Ottoman Empire, reaching Europe in the 1600s through ports like Venice. For about 200 years, nearly all the world's coffee shipped from Yemen's port of Mocha.
Timeline
- 1400s: Coffee brewed in Yemen's Sufi circles.
- Early 1500s: Coffee houses in Mecca and Cairo.
- 1550s: Coffee houses open in Istanbul.
- 1600s: Coffee reaches Venice, London, Paris, Amsterdam.
- Late 1600s-1700s: Seedlings carried to India, Java and the Americas, ending Yemen's monopoly.
Why it matters today
Every cup in the world traces back to Yemen's terraces. Read more in our history of Yemen coffee.
Frequently asked questions
Did coffee originate in Ethiopia or Yemen?
The plant is native to Ethiopia; cultivation and brewing as a drink were first documented in Yemen.
Why is it called mocha?
After the Red Sea port of Mocha (Al-Makha).
Is Yemen still a coffee producer?
Yes, on a small scale with exceptional quality.
Taste where it all began: Mocha Yemeni.
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