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An Espresso History of Coffee
Ever wondered who invented coffee? Try this very fast history of coffee by our Copy Editor, Michael "Misha" Rand - forgive him, he had a little too much of our Dark Roast before writing this!

Coffee Bean1,000 A.D. - The story begins in Africa with a goat herder who observes his herd catching a buzz on the berries of a small bush.

Coffee BeanNext stop Arabia - 1,200 A.D., where the boiling of beans begins.

Coffee BeanThe first to grind are the Ottoman Turks in 1453 - and they open the world's first coffee shop, Kiva Han.

Coffee BeanAnd then we're off to Italy - 1600. From there the Dutch take over global control of commercial cultivation by planting in their East Indian colony, Java (hence the nickname).

Coffee BeanLouis XIV of France lucks into a prize bush in 1713, but it's stolen by a naval officer who plants it in Martinique.

Coffee BeanBy 1763, 19 million coffee plants are growing on Martinique - the eventual source of 90% of the world's plants.

Coffee BeanMeanwhile, the Brazilians are gaining grounds thanks to the duping of a cuckolded French Guiana Governor by a dashing Brazilian Lieutenant.

Coffee BeanWe pick up the story in Boston in 1773, where the Boston Tea Party makes the drinking of coffee a patriotic duty in the colonies.

Coffee BeanFast forward to 1940 - American soldiers are issued instant coffee in their rations.

Coffee BeanSix years later, Achilles Gaggia perfects his espresso machine in Italy.

Coffee BeanJune, 1999 - MotherNature.com makes java history with its premium line of certified organic coffees available on the Internet.

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