Archive for January 26th, 2010
Coffee is a widely-consumed stimulant beverage prepared from roasted seeds, commonly called coffee beans, of the coffee plant. In recent years, the number of coffee drinkers has exploded, thanks in large part to the emergence of coffeehouse chains like Tully’s and Starbucks. While many of us think that coffee has only garnered a devout following in recent years, its origins can be traced back centuries.
Coffee was first consumed in the 9th century, when it was discovered in the highlands of Ethiopia. From there, it spread to Egypt and Yemen, and by the 15th century had reached Armenia, Persia, Turkey, and northern Africa. From the Muslim world, coffee spread to Italy, then to the rest of Europe and the Americas. Today, gourmet coffee is one of the most popular beverages worldwide, with people brewing java in their own espresso machines