Coffee was first discovered in Ethiopia, in the region of Kaffa, according to the most famous traditional legend. The story tells of a goat herder named Kaldi, who noticed that his goats became unusually energetic after eating the red berries from a particular tree. Curious, Kaldi tried the berries himself and experienced a similar burst of energy.
Although the Kaldi story is probably legend rather than documented history, Ethiopia is widely regarded as the birthplace of the coffee plant, Coffea arabica. Wild coffee plants still grow naturally in the country's highland forests.
From Ethiopia, coffee eventually reached Yemen, probably by the 15th century. Yemeni farmers cultivated coffee and developed methods of roasting and brewing the beans. Coffee became particularly popular among Sufi communities, who used it to help them remain awake during nighttime prayers.
By the 16th century, coffee had spread throughout the Middle East and later to Europe. From there, it traveled to Asia, the Americas and eventually became one of the world's most widely consumed beverages.
So, while Yemen played a crucial role in developing coffee culture and cultivation, the roots of the coffee plant itself can be traced to Ethiopia, particularly its southwestern highlands.
In simple terms: Ethiopia gave the world the coffee plant; Yemen helped turn coffee into the global drink we know today.
