The history of coffee is fascinating and full of legends. The origin of its name is uncertain: according to some people, it comes from the Kaffa plateau in Ethiopia, an area where the Coffea plant prospers. Others ascribe the term coffee to a Turkish word, Kahve, which in turn comes from the Arab word Qahwa, that means "vegetable based drink". There is evidence that coffee was already known in ancient times, for example, the Bible mentions it in the first book of the Kings. David brings “roasted grains” as an appeasement gift, which were nothing more than coffee beans.

Also, a legend claims that a monk of the Chehodet Monastery in Yemen used a drink prepared with berries in order to stay awake and pray longer: an idea he got from a shepherd named Kaldi, who had noticed his animals used to become livelier after eating the same berries. Even Mohammed, suddenly hit by sleeping sickness, tested the useful effect of the drink: thanks to the black potion sent from Allah through Archangel Gabriel, Mohammed regains strength and health and manages to “unsaddle 40 horsemen and satisfy as many women."

Since the 15th century, the use of coffee begins to spread and the first scientific works on its therapeutic characteristics were produced. For example, Avicenna, a famous Arabian doctor, prescribes it as a medicine. However, the drink does not remain within Arabian borders. Since the 16th century, coffee begins to be exported to the West. Furthermore, given the increasing demand and high taxation that push the price up, coffee is also planted in other parts of the world. The Dutch grow it in Java; the French in Martinique and the West Indies; the English, Spanish and Portuguese in Africa, Asia and America. Finally, through a pilgrim who went to Mecca and stole seven seeds that he brought back home, coffee spread in India as well.