We all love the ink coloured beverage that is supposed to keep us vital. Yes, you are right it is one of the most popular beverages on the planet, Coffee! Apart from Starbucks and hipster coffee shops, what else do you know about coffee?
The origin and history of coffee dates back to the 10th century and possibly even earlier with some legends surrounding coffee cherry. The coffee plant has been discovered in Ethiopia by a goatherd based on one of the legends. According to another legend, the first coffee plant was found in the mountains of Yemen.
Since 1500, coffee has been traded and exported to the rest of the world from the Yemeni port called Mokha specifically to India, Europe, Java, the Caribbean, South America. Coffee has widely spread during the Ottoman Empire and their conquering ambitions as well as with traders from the Republic of Venice.
In Europe, coffee was a luxury and enjoyed by royalty and the wealthy class in the first instance, however, as coffee gained popularity many traders established so-called “Coffeehouses” for the public to enjoy coffee as well. Through evolution and different regions in Europe, several different coffee serves occurred such as adding sugar and milk to the coffee in 1683, coffee called “Melange” was born. The oldest coffee house, Oxford’s Queen’s Lane Coffee House, was established in 1654, and today, it is a favourite spot for tourists and Oxford University students.
Coffee was introduced to America by the French as well as with Portuguese and Spanish in the 1720s and did not take off until several countries got their independence. A big part of rising coffee consumption occurred after the Boston Tea Party in 1773 where Americans switched to drinking coffee during the American revolution only because tea became unpatriotic.
Since these days drinking coffee has become our day-to-day habit, events are held to celebrate coffee on the 29th of September every year. As a bartender, I celebrate it with an Espresso Martini created by legendary Dick Bradsell (the creator of Espresso Martini).
Espresso Martini
50ml Vodka (tequila, rum, whisky, bourbon, or cognac can be used to replace the base)
10ml Coffee Liqueur
1 shot of espresso
1. Add sugar based on your preference.
2. Combine all ingredients in a shaker, add ice, hard shake, and strain into a chilled martini glass.
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