coffee, beverage brewed from the roasted and ground seeds of the tropical evergreen

coffee plants of African origin. Coffee is one of the three most popular beverages in the
world (alongside water and tea) and one of the most profitable international
commodities. Though coffee is the basis for an endless array of beverages, its popularity
is mainly attributed to its invigorating effect, which is produced by caffeine, an alkaloid
present in coffee.

Two species of coffee plants, Coffea arabica and C. canephora, supply almost all of the
world’s consumption. Arabica is considered a milder and more flavourful and aromatic
brew than Robusta, the main variety of C. canephora. The flatter and more elongated
Arabica bean is more widespread than Robusta but more delicate and vulnerable to
pests, requiring a cool subtropical climate; Arabica must grow at higher elevations
(2,000–6,500 feet [600–2,000 metres]), it needs a lot of moisture, and it has fairly
specific shade requirements. Latin America, eastern Africa, Asia, and Arabia are leading
producers of Arabica coffee. The rounder, more convex Robusta bean, as its name
suggests, is hardier and can grow at lower altitudes (from sea level to 2,000 feet).
Robusta coffee is cheaper to produce, has twice the caffeine content of Arabica, and is
typically the bean of choice for inexpensive commercial coffee brands. Western and
Central Africa, Southeast Asia, and Brazil are major producers of Robusta coffee.

History
Wild coffee plants, probably from Kefa (Kaffa), Ethiopia, were taken to southern Arabia
and placed under cultivation in the 15th century. One of many legends about the
discovery of coffee is that of Kaldi, an Arab goatherd who was puzzled by the strange
antics of his flock. About 850 CE Kaldi supposedly sampled the berries of the evergreen
bush on which the goats were feeding and, on experiencing a sense of exhilaration,
proclaimed his discovery to the world.
Whatever the actual origin of coffee, its stimulating effect undoubtedly made it
popular. Ironically, though Islamic authorities pronounced the drink
intoxicating and therefore prohibited by the Qurʾān, many Muslims were
attracted to the beverage as a substitute for alcohol, also prohibited by the
Qurʾān. Despite the threat of severe penalties, coffee drinking spread rapidly
among Arabs and their neighbours and even gave rise to a new social and
cultural entity, the coffeehouse.Coffee was introduced into one European
country after another throughout the 16th and 17th centuries. Many accounts
are recorded of its prohibition or approval as a religious, political, and medical
potion. By the end of the 17th century, coffeehouses were flourishing across
Britain, the British colonies in America, and continental Europe.