Nomads have chewed the fruits of the Arabica since time immemorial. We reputedly have the shepherd boy, Kaldi, to thank for its roasting process. After his goats had been frolicking wildly, he took the coffee bush they had been eating from to the monks. They threw the bush into the fire without having achieved anything and were thrilled with the scent of the roasted coffee beans.

The mecca of mocha from 1500 was –Mecca. And every pilgrim disseminated the tidings of Arabica, with the tone of conviction. Particularly as its brother in sensual rush, wine, was forbidden for Muslims. Therefore Arabica penetrated into every corner: Asia Minor, Syria, Egypt, Damascus and Aleppo and of couse Yemen, as the Arabica originated from there in terraced plantations, which also found its way toEurope.

After coffee was first mentioned by humanistic Doctores, the knowledge about coffee sank in the turmoil of the European religious wars. Coffee only turned up again during more peaceful times: as a drink of the rich, side-by-side with tea and chocolate. However, even then, Pope Clemens VIIIth needed to defend it: from a prohibition as a muslim magic potion.

Bremen was already Germany’s capital for coffee at an early stage. The first coffee house in Germany originated here in 1673. To this day, coffee characterises the city where many large-scale and small-scale roasters have gathered.

The Arabica established itself as a drink in Europe. The Portuguese and Dutch distributed it as a global plant – frequently in such adventurous ways as Gabriel Mathieu de Clieu in 1723. The captain built a glass greenhouse for his coffee plant for the crossing to Martinique. On the difficult voyage, he shared his last water ration with the delicate plant. He managed to do this successfully – direct offshoots can be found today, inter alia, in Jamaica, Mexico and the Philippines.