COFFEE

The History of Coffee:

From Ancient Roots to Your Perfect Zvegor Cup

It all begins here

The Story Behind Your Cup

Zvegor Coffee
Ever wondered about the incredible odyssey behind your morning brew?

At TZB, every bold sip of Zvegor Coffee carries a story. One that spans centuries, continents, revolutions, and rituals. From humble wild berries to café counters and corner offices, coffee’s journey is steeped in mystery, power, and cultural transformation.


So, go ahead. Brew that cup. Let’s time travel together.

Ethiopian Origins:

Dancing Goats & the Birth of Coffee

In the misty highlands of Ethiopia, a curious goat herder named Kaldi noticed something odd: his goats were unusually energetic after munching on red berries. Intrigued, Kaldi tried them himself, and coffee’s legend was born.

While the tale is likely more folklore than fact, Ethiopia remains coffee’s genetic and spiritual homeland. Indigenous Arabica still grows wild here, with flavors and aromas unmatched anywhere in the world.

 

 

THE HISTORY OF COFFEE
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Yemen:

The Birthplace of Coffee Culture

From Ethiopia, coffee crossed the Red Sea into Yemen, where Sufi monks brewed it as qahwa to stay awake during long nights of prayer and meditation. By the 15th century, Yemen had transformed coffee into a revered ritual and a booming business.

Yemen’s port of Mocha became the world’s first coffee export hub, so yes, the next time you sip a mocha, you're tasting history.

Bans, Backlash & Brewing Uprisings

Coffee’s rapid popularity stirred suspicion.

In Mecca (1511) and Cairo (1532), authorities banned coffeehouses, claiming they were hotbeds of rebellion and moral decay. But the people weren't having it. They protested, they brewed louder, and the bans were soon overturned.

This pattern, resistance followed by acceptance, echoes throughout coffee’s history. It’s always been more than a drink; it’s a movement.

From the Middle East to Europe:

Coffeehouses & Culture

By the 17th century, coffee reached Venice and quickly spread through Vienna, Paris, and London. At first, the clergy declared it the "bitter invention of Satan", until Pope Clement VIII took a sip and declared it divine.

Soon, coffeehouses became “penny universities”: public spaces where one penny bought a cup of coffee and a front-row seat to poetry, politics, and philosophy. Places like Lloyd’s of London started as humble coffee shops.

THE HISTORY OF COFFEE
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Africa:

Coffee’s Soulful Symphony

Beyond Ethiopia’s wild forests, African nations such as Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda produce coffees bursting with brightness, complexity, and character.
Zvegor partners with smallholder farmers and cooperatives who steward these lands with tradition and love, ensuring every sip tells a richer, truer story.

India’s Sacred Seven Beans

Coffee arrived in India with a bold smuggler: Baba Budan, a 17th-century Sufi saint. On his pilgrimage back from Yemen, he hid seven fertile beans in his robes and planted them in the hills of Karnataka.

Those beans birthed India’s coffee culture, now thriving with shade-grown Arabica, Robusta, and monsoon-aged beans, many of which are proudly featured in Zvegor’s Indian-origin blends.

Colonial Shadows & Ethical Sunrise

Coffee’s global rise wasn’t all sunshine and steam. European colonial powers turned it into a commodity, building plantations on the backs of enslaved and exploited labor across Africa, the Caribbean, and South America.

At TZB, we don’t gloss over this history. Instead, we actively honor it through ethical sourcing, fair trade practices, and partnerships rooted in dignity and sustainability.

Africa: Coffee’s Soulful Symphony

Beyond Ethiopia’s wild forests, African nations such as Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda produce coffees bursting with brightness, complexity, and character.
Zvegor partners with smallholder farmers and cooperatives who steward these lands with tradition and love, ensuring every sip tells a richer, truer story.

Italy’s Espresso Revolution

In 1901, Italian inventor Luigi Bezzera patented the first espresso machine. In 1945, Achille Gaggia turned up the pressure, literally, and gave us the modern espresso, crowned with a golden crema.

That one invention reshaped how the world drinks coffee.
Zvegor’s bold, short-brewed styles draw directly from this Italian tradition, blending depth with modern flair.

From Boston to the Global Stage: Coffee in the West

Did you know coffee became a symbol of independence in the U.S.?

After the Boston Tea Party (1773), Americans boycotted tea in protest of British rule, and coffee surged as a patriotic alternative.

Fast-forward to the 20th century: the invention of instant coffee, vacuum-sealed cans, and eventually, the rise of modern coffee culture turned coffee into a global daily ritual. But in recent decades, a new movement stirred.

The Third Wave: Coffee with Consciousness

Welcome to today’s third-wave coffee era, where every bean is:

●      Sourced transparently

●      Roasted in small batches

●      Tested by tasters (Q-graders)

●      Traced back to the farmer’s hands

Zvegor was born in this movement.
We believe coffee is not just a product, it’s a connection, a conversation, and a craft.

Why Zvegor? A Legacy in Every Bean

We don’t just roast coffee. We preserve heritage, empower growers, and reimagine tradition. When you drink Zvegor, you’re not sipping a trend. You’re continuing a legacy that began with a goat, a monk, and a revolution.

Taste the Legacy in Every Cup

Bold. Ethical. Rich with story.

[Explore Zvegor Coffees] | [Shop Zvegor Coffee] | [Experience Brigitta Café]

Share Your Zvegor Story

How has coffee changed your day? Share your rituals, photos, or memories using #ItAllBeginsHere.
Each month, we’ll spotlight one story from our global community. Let’s brew a brighter future, together.