A goat in Ethiopia accidentally discovered coffee for the world

Legend has it that Kaldi, a goat herder who lived in Ethiopia, accidentally discovered coffee.

Coffee was accidentally discovered by a goat

One day, Kaldi observed his herd of goats chewing on red cherries from a tree he had never noticed before, after which they became energized.  

After trying them himself, Kaldi brought the cherries to a local monastery, where the monks tossed them in the fire as they disapproved of the idea of using the strange fruit. 

Instead of burning the beans, it actually roasted them. Those roasted beans were used to create the first coffee.

Coffee Beans Growing on a Small Farm

Did you know?

Ethiopia currently has an estimated population of 94 million people with 15 million or 16% of the population depends on coffee for their means of income. Coffee is Ethiopia's most important cash crop and largest export commodity. 

In 2001, Ethiopia's Federal Cooperative Commission opened its coffee export market to direct participation of farming communities. 

What does that mean? It means, coffee grower cooperatives can sell directly to export markets allowing their unions to negotiate Fairtrade agreements, research and comprehensive training and education for Ethiopian cooperative leaders, particularly women and youths.