From Goat Herders to Global Rituals: A Brief History of Coffee
Coffee. It’s the first thing many of us reach for before sketching a line, opening a BIM model, or stepping into a job site meeting. But how did this everyday ritual come to fuel our lives so thoroughly?
Let’s take a quick journey through the storied history of coffee.
The Discovery: From Ethiopian Hillsides
Legend has it that around the 9th century, an Ethiopian goat herder named Kaldi noticed his goats dancing energetically after nibbling on bright red berries. Curious, he tried them himself and soon found their effects ... stimulating.
From there, coffee made its way into local monasteries, where monks used it to stay awake during long evening prayers. For anyone who’s ever pulled an all-nighter finalizing a presentation board - we’ve been part of a very long tradition.
Coffeehouses and Culture in the Islamic World
By the 15th century, coffee was being cultivated and roasted in Yemen. The Sufi mystics of the region embraced it to aid spiritual focus - a ritual not unlike the meditative sip many of us take before diving into design work.
Soon, the drink spread to Cairo, Mecca, and Constantinople, where the world’s first coffeehouses - known as qahveh khaneh - emerged. These were more than beverage spots. They were hubs of conversation, philosophy, storytelling, and early creative collaboration.
Europe’s Creative Awakening - and Caffeine Surge
Coffee reached Europe in the 17th century, arriving in Venice, Paris, and London through trade. Though it was initially met with suspicion, it quickly gained popularity - especially among thinkers, artists, and architects.
By the time of the Renaissance and Enlightenment, coffeehouses were booming across the continent. These were the original coworking spaces, where ideas flowed as freely as the brews. One could argue that caffeine fueled more than a few sketches, city plans, and philosophical movements.
Coffee in America: From Revolution to Office Culture
In colonial America, coffee gained traction after the Boston Tea Party, when patriotic citizens ditched tea in favor of something a little more rebellious.
By the 20th century, coffee had become a staple of office life - often in uninspired styrofoam cups under buzzing fluorescent lights. Thankfully, the third wave coffee movement arrived to restore the artistry, craft, and flavor to our daily ritual.
A Designer’s Drink
While coffee may not be exclusive to designers, there's something poetic about how it intersects with the design process. It’s a material all its own: rich, nuanced, and deeply personal.
From the bold lines of Brutalism to the ornamentation of Neoclassicism, every creative process needs a little push - a little ritual - to begin. For many, that’s a perfect cup of coffee.
Why We Do Coffee
At Design Fuel, we believe that coffee isn’t just a beverage. It’s part of the creative process - the spark behind the sketch.
Our blends are inspired by architectural movements. Because your coffee should be as intentional and inspiring as your designs.
So next time you take that first sip, remember: you’re part of a global, centuries-long tradition of thinkers, makers, and dreamers ... all fueled by the same humble bean.