Many people believe that coffee was discovered in Ethiopia around 500 BC. After observing the stimulating affects of its berries, travelers brought beans to Arabia and it began to be called coffee.

Coffee gained popularity in Europe during the Renaissance and became a commercial success with wide distribution. Eventually coffee became popular in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the Americas.

The Healing Power of Coffee

For centuries coffee has been consider to be almost a wonder drug. The miraculous poewr of coffee has perhaps been exaggerated, but there’s a modicum of truth to the claim.

Coffee has been touted as an antioxidant, diuretic, and insecticide. Some studies have found that coffee has a positive affect on the management of heart disease, diabetes, asthma, and liver disease. But other studies have found that the caffeine in coffee is not that good for people.

Like most things, coffee is best taken in moderation.

The Coffee Trade

Coffee is an important element in the world’s economy. The dollar amount of the coffee beans traded on exchanges in New York, London, Lima, and Hong Kong is staggering.

In addition coffee has given rise to the manufacture of coffee roasting, grinding, and brewing equipment for both home and commercial use.

Coffee continues to be a favorite beverage in many parts of the world. There are an amazing number of coffee shops and, of course, it is served at most restaurants and fast food outlets.

The rise of Starbucks inspired competitors both large and small to try to copy the very successful model. Eventually it became easier to find espresso, latte, and cappuccino even in fast food outlets like McDonalds.

Smart consumers began to buy their own equipment to make the same delicious drinks at home.

Connoisseurs began to treat coffee with the same reverence as wine aficionados treat rare vintages. The rise of special blends and roasts, coffee flavorings, and use of coffee in cooking only confirmed the mystique of coffee.

Updated May 30, 2009

Coffee has been a worldwide favorite for hundreds of years with shops opening up all over Europe following the creation of the first little coffee house in Constantinople. Business and coffee just seemed to go hand-in-hand for many Europeans. In fact, the Lloyds of London insurance company was initially begun as a coffee house!

Although the love of coffee shops has kind of come and gone through the ages, and taken on different forms in some eras, in reality the newer coffee houses owe homage to the ones of days gone by. Without these forerunners and the way they managed to glamorize coffee, these modern day designer shops wouldn’t exist today.

Even in times like the 1950s when coffee houses weren’t necessarily a hit, coffee remained a major commodity. Consider all the diners that served up a slice of pie with a hot cup of Joe and still do.

The beatnik, poetry loving coffee houses of the 1960s have since given way to the trendy, upscale hot spots of the 2000s, but the fact remains coffee is a favorite for millions around the world and has been for a long time regardless of how or where it’s served.

Coffee, in fact, is the world’s second biggest commodity, falling just behind oil. That’s pretty impressive considering it’s just a tiny bean that grows on a tree from the tropics. That tiny bean, however, is responsible for a multi-billion-dollar annual trade and is directly responsible for the employ of millions of people.

Whether growers, processors, roasters, packagers or coffee house employees, the dent coffee makes on the worldwide economy is massive. The overall production industry is worth some $60 billion a year and hundreds of thousands of pounds of coffee are shipped from the 50 or so producing countries each year to points all over the world.

The drink behind the coffee house craze is believed to have been discovered in Ethiopia. It has since spread from there to Constantinople and beyond. And, it’s showing no signs of slowing down. With more flavors and varieties than some would care to count, coffee is a big business and coffee houses appear to be here to stay.

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