LITTLE COFFEE HEAVEN...

Have you ever tried to survive a day without drinking some coffee? David Lynch claims that: “Even bad coffee is better than no coffee at all."

Coffee is one of the most traded agricultural commodities in the world. It is said that the coffee plant orginated in Ethiopia. But propagation of coffee began in Yemen, from where "the favorite drink of the civilized world" travelled worldwide. In scientific documents dating from AD 900 to AD 1000 the numerous benefits to "the stomache, the members, the skin" were described. It was also noted that the drink "gives an excellent smell to the whole body".

According to an Arab legend, the exiled Sheikh Omar found coffee berries growing wild and when he was hungry, he boiled them and drunk the brew. When he returned home in Mocha, he carried some of the beans with him. 

It is also believed that coffee existed in the time of Homer and that it was the "wondrous drink" that beautiful Helen took with her to Troy.  

In Mecca the first coffee houses were established. They were called Kaveh Kanes and orginally they had a religious purpose. But very quickly they became centres of gossip, chess, dancing and singing. 

Why did coffee houses become so popular? Simply because nothing like them had existed before and what is more, before the advent of the coffee house, there had been nowhere to enjoy a pleasant, not too expensive drink in nice company. 

Coffee derives from Italian caffe, from Turkish kahveh, and from Arabic qahwah. It is said originally to have meant wine but perhaps it refers to Kaffa region of Ethiopia, a home of the plan.

How about you? Have you had your coffee yet?