How humanity got hooked on coffee - Jonathan Morris

Overview

The video traces coffee’s rise from an early legend in Ethiopia to a global economic and cultural force, while also highlighting ongoing ethical and climate challenges.

Origins and early use

• A traditional story (circa 850 CE) credits goatherd Kaldi with noticing that goats became unusually energetic after eating berries.
• While exact early consumption dates are uncertain, the video notes that before the 1400s, people in Ethiopia foraged wild coffee and used it in multiple forms:
  • Tea made from leaves
  • Snacks using berries with butter and salt
  • Energizing drinks made by drying, roasting, and simmering cherries

Spread through trade and religious adoption

• Coffee moved through trade routes into the Middle East.
• A Sufi leader in Yemen is said to have recommended coffee during religious chants and dances.
• The Ottoman Empire helped popularize coffee by roasting and grinding beans, supporting coffeehouses near:
  • Mosques
  • Guesthouses
• Concern emerged among authorities about whether coffee was harmful or intoxicating. In 1511, a religious court in Mecca “put coffee on trial” and ultimately judged it permissible.
• Coffeehouse culture expanded in cities such as Damascus and Istanbul.

Growth in Europe and coffeehouse culture

• By the late 1500s, Yemen was farming coffee and exporting from Al-Makha (Mocha).
• Coffee spread further after being transported/smuggled to India, then onward to Java and beyond.
• In Europe:
  • The first London coffeehouses appeared in the 1650s
  • The number grew rapidly to over 80 by 1663
• Even after an attempted ban by King Charles II in 1675, coffeehouses persisted as social and intellectual hubs—for example, where Robert Hooke dissected a porpoise at Garraway’s.
• In France, coffee was adapted with milk and sugar.
• Enlightenment figures (including Diderot and Voltaire) are associated with heavy consumption.

Global profit and exploitation

• European empires profited as coffee production expanded, relying on enslaved or exploited labor across Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
• In Latin America, growers displaced Indigenous people and cleared forests for plantations.
• By 1906, Brazil exported over 80% of global coffee.
• Industrialization also changed coffee consumption, including:
  • The first commercial espresso machine showcased at the 1906 Milan World’s Fair
  • Widespread “coffee breaks” in the mid-1950s (about 60% of US factories)

Modern shifts and current problems

• After decolonization, African countries increased production.
• Coffee spread further in East Asia through canned pre-prepared beverages.
• More recently, specialty coffee trends increased demand for higher-quality beans and improved farming in some regions (Central America and East Africa).
• The video emphasizes that coffee workers often still face inhumane conditions and insufficient compensation, leading to ethical certification efforts, including:
  • Minimum wage
  • Sustainable practices

Climate change threat

• The video warns that climate change will likely shrink the “Bean Belt”—the equatorial region where coffee grows—raising uncertainty about future production.
• Scientists are exploring solutions such as resilient coffee hybrids to help protect coffee as a global daily ritual.

Presenters or contributors

• Jonathan Morris