Coffee grown worldwide can trace its heritage back centuries to the ancient coffee forests on the Ethiopian plateau. There, legend says the goat herder
Ethiopia is widely considered to be the epicentre of where coffee came from. If you've ever googled “coffee history”, you will have come across the famous story of how coffee was founded in Ethiopia by Kaldi, an Ethiopian goat herder, around 800 AD.
Ethiopia is widely considered the birthplace of coffee. Many experts say that Ethiopia is the only place that coffee grew natively and the apocryphal story of Kaldi is told over and over. Kaldi was a goat herder who discovered coffee after witnessing the vigor that his goats received from eating the cherries.
The history of coffee dates back to centuries of old oral tradition in modern day Jimma, Ethiopia. Coffee was first cultivated in Ethiopia, then later introduced to other countries. In the 15th century, Sufi monasteries in Yemen employed coffee as an aid to concentration during prayers.
Melbourne is sometimes called the “coffee capital of the World” with its plethora of cafés and roasteries. In 1952, the first espresso machines began to appear in Australia and a plethora of fine Italian coffee houses were emerging in Melbourne and Sydney.
Melbourne: The Coffee Capital of Australia.
Where is coffee grown in Australia? Coffee is grown in two main areas in Australia, northern NSW and QLD, due to the subtropical climate of these regions. The Atherton Tablelands, the home of the Jack Murat Coffee Farm, which our team had the pleasure of visiting, is one of these important coffee-growing areas.
Colombia. Colombia is probably the world's best-known coffee producer and ranks second worldwide in yearly production. A high standard of excellence is maintained with great pride and careful growing on thousands of small family farms across the country.
Ethiopia, the birthplace of coffee
To a lot of people, Ethiopia would be where the best coffee in the world comes from. Because of the history of coffee production, location in the world and equality of opportunity, Ethiopia has everything many people believe makes for the best coffee in the world.
Believed to have originated in Ethiopia, coffee was used in the Middle East in the 16th century to aid concentration.
Most agree that the original coffee plants were native to the western regions of Ethiopia. Coffee was recorded as a beverage as early as the 6th century, utilized by the Ottoman Empire. It was in Yemen, however, that these plants were finally cultivated and developed into the beans and beverage that we know today.
But coffee is deeply connected to the country's history and the world owes much of its coffee culture to the little-known country. Whilst the coffee tree has its roots in Ethiopia, the coffee drink originated in Yemen and up until the early 1700s, Yemen was the world's sole exporter of coffee.
The word “coffee” has roots in several languages. In Yemen it earned the name qahwah, which was originally a romantic term for wine. It later became the Turkish kahveh, then Dutch koffie and finally coffee in English. The modern version of roasted coffee originated in Arabia.
Apparently, the origin of the phrase can be traced back to a 1994 translation of The Brothers Karamazov. It popped up again in 2000 in a Washington Post headline "They All Want To Change the World. But First, Coffee".
Australian baristas push the boundaries when it comes to their coffee art. Baristas in Australia have a creativity that sets them apart. It goes without saying that they're trained in temperature control and the exact angle at which to steam milk. They know what it takes to create silky smooth make-you-swoon crema.
Melbourne is arguably home to some of the best coffee in the world. When the first wave of post-WWII immigrants arrived from Italy and Greece in the 1950s, they bought coffee culture with them. Before long, the tradition of sipping espresso was as Aussie as a sausage in bread.
Most Australians drink coffee in the espresso-style in contrast to drip coffee, which is a popular brew method in the US. The coffee drink is made individually once the orders are made and the baristas expect the customers to take their time to enjoy the coffee.
Flat white
© Tourism Australia. The classic Aussie coffee creation, a flat white contains a single shot of espresso followed by a steamy pour of milk and a thin layer of foam.
Australian coffee is espresso-based drip-style coffee, which makes it much stronger than American coffee. They make each drink individually and to order, so the coffee's not just waiting in the pot for the next customer's cup.
Australian grown coffee comes from two major regions in Australia. The Atherton tablelands in Queensland and Northern New South Wales. It is here that you will find the origins of our Australian Estate Coffee. These regions are excellent for growing coffee because of the rich soils and perfect climate they enjoy.
The Most Popular Coffee in Australia
While the latte is officially the best-seller across the country, folks in Melbourne and the surrounding state of Victoria prefer cappuccinos.
Paramount Coffee Project – Sydney. PCP is known the world over for its innovative approach to coffee and uber-cool Aussie vibes. They introduce new beans and new roasters from around the world every four to six weeks to keep things fresh and exciting. It's a Surry Hills icon and shows no sign of slowing down.