Africa: The Birthplace of Coffee.

The coffee tree, native to Africa, was first cultivated in the Ethiopian province of Kaffa, giving the drink its name.  According to the most enduring tale, a 9th-century goatherd named Kaldi noticed his goats becoming unusually energetic after eating the red berries from a certain shrub.  Curious, he tried the berries himself and felt invigorated. The local monks, intrigued by this natural stimulant, began to brew the beans into a drink that helped them stay awake during long hours of prayer. Thus, coffee’s first use was spiritual.

From Ethiopia, coffee spread across the Red Sea to Yemen, where Sufi mystics used it to aid in meditation. By the 15th century, coffee was being cultivated and traded extensively in the Arab world, fueling social gatherings in public coffee houses that became centers of conversation, music, and political discourse.

By the 18th century, Jesuit missionaries had transplanted African coffee into South America, where the volcanic soil of the Andes Mountains, along with mild temperatures and abundant rainfall, enabled the crop to flourish.  Today, most of the coffee that fills our daily cups are from Brazil and Columbia.  

Dedicated to preserving the legacy of the iconic Anthora coffee cup – a true symbol of New York City’s street culture, corner delis, and daily rituals – NY Coffee Cup celebrates its enduring design, cultural significance, and place in coffee history, both in NYC and beyond.