The history of coffee begins in the Ethiopian region of Kaffa, where legend has it that a goat herder named Kaldi discovered the stimulating effects of coffee beans around the 9th century. Kaldi noticed his goats becoming unusually energetic after eating the red berries from a certain tree. He shared his discovery with a local monastery, where monks used the berries to create a drink that helped them stay awake during long hours of prayer.
From Ethiopia, coffee spread to the Arabian Peninsula. By the 15th century, coffee cultivation and trade were established in Yemen. The port city of Mocha became a center for coffee distribution, and the drink gained popularity in Persia, Egypt, and the Ottoman Empire. Coffeehouses, known as qahveh khaneh, became social hubs where people gathered to discuss politics, literature, and society. These coffeehouses were often referred to as “schools of the wise.”