Coffee was first discovered in Ethiopia, but it was the Arabs who first introduced it to the world and began trading it in the 15th century. From the Arab world, coffee spread to Turkey and the Ottoman Empire, where it became a popular drink in coffeehouses.
In the 16th century, the Venetians were the first Europeans to encounter coffee when they traded with the Ottomans. Coffee soon became a popular drink in Venice, and the first European coffeehouse was opened in the city in 1645.
Coffee then spread to other parts of Europe, including France, England, and the Netherlands. The Dutch played a particularly significant role in the spread of coffee, as they established coffee plantations in their colonies in Indonesia and eventually brought coffee to the Americas.
The popularity of coffee grew rapidly in Europe, and it became an essential part of daily life for many people. Coffeehouses became social and cultural hubs, where people gathered to discuss politics, art, and literature.
Overall, the spread of coffee to Europe was a gradual process that began with the trade routes of the Arab world and was eventually adopted and embraced by Europeans, leading to the widespread popularity and consumption of coffee that we see today.
