History of Coffee
The
word "coffee" comes from the name of one of the many
parts of Ethiopia where coffee is grown - Kaffa. More genetically
diverse strains of Coffee arabica exist in Ethiopia than anywhere
else in the world, which has lead botanists and scientists to
agree that Ethiopia is the center of origin, diversification and
dissemination of the coffee plant. Coffee arabica has grown wild
in the forests of southwestern Ethiopia, in Kaffa and Buno districts.
Ethiopian legend says that a goat-herd called Kalid noticed how
frisky his goats became after eating coffee berries so he decided
to try some and tasted and enjoyed their stimulating effect. He
passed his discovery on to a monk, who having transplanted the
berries near his monastery by Lake Tana, perfected his roasting
grinding and brewing process and found that coffee helped keep
monks awake and alert during their long prayers at night.
