More than 1200 years ago hard working people used to fight to stay awake without coffee. Thankfully, an Arab named Khalid discovered this stimulant when he noticed that his herd of goats became excited after eating a particular berry in the Euthopian slopes. These berries were taken and boiled to make al-qahwa.Ever since then coffee has become a global industry, the second largest commodity-based product after oil. In the world 1.6 billion cups are drunk each day.
Muslims in Yemen first started drinking coffee. Soon it spread to Mecca and Turkey in the 15th century, then Cairo in the late 16th century as a popular drink.
A Turk merchant named Pasqua Rosee brought the first coffee to England in 1650, selling it in a coffee shop in Georgeyard. By 1700 there were about 500 coffee shops in London and 3000 in the whole of England. The coffee shops became known as "penny universities" because any one could just walk in and listen to some of the greatest minds of the time in these coffee shops.
The consumption of coffee in Europe was largely based on the traditional Muslim preparation of the drink, boiling and adding sugar. In 1632, however, a new way of preparing coffee became popular, cappuccino coffee.
Marco d'Avianno, a priest from the Capuchin monastic order, was fighting the Turks' besiegement of Vienna in 1683. The Turks retreated and left sacks of Turkish coffee. Finding it too strong for their taste, the winning army added honey and cream. The coffee turned light brown resembling the color of the Capuchins' robes.
The Viennese named cappuccino after the name of the monastery order. Now you know where coffee and cappuccino comes from!
Credit: Muslim Heritage in Our World by Salim Al-Hassani
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