The Motherland of Coffee - How Wired Goats Changed the World

Where would we be without Moms?  

In honor of Moms everywhere—hot moms, helicopter moms, sugar moms, chosen moms, and all the moms in between—we want to say Happy Mother’s Day. We don’t know where we’d be without you... probably somewhere unsavory. 

 
As an ode to mothers, let’s talk about the of the motherland of coffee—Ethiopia. From history to harvest practices, respect your mother & learn all about Ethiopian coffee culture...  

Let’s talk legends...  

Once upon a time (except this is a true story) in Ethiopia, there was a goat hearder named Kaldi who stumbled upon what would become the stuff our lives revolve around: coffee. One day, while his goats were frolicking their faces off, Kaldi noticed they had been munching on some suspiciously vibrant red berries. Curiosity piqued, he decided to join in on the berry buffet and found himself bouncing off the walls with newfound energy. 

Word of Kaldi's discovery spread faster than that case of mono after prom. Before you could say "espresso," coffee became the hottest trend in town. Soon, Ethiopia was exporting coffee beans beyond its borders, with Yemen being the next lucky recipient of Kaldi's accidental energy elixir. From there, it was a domino effect - coffee conquered the globe, one swig at a time. 

And to this day, Ethiopia proudly boasts some of the oldest and most esteemed coffee trees in the world, proving that sometimes the best discoveries are made when you're just trying to keep up with your hyperactive goats. 
 
Ritualize the roast...  
 
In Ethiopia, the coffee culture is communal and a daily ritual. Beans are hand ground and roasted then brewed in a special pot called a jebena. This process creates a full-bodied and intense cup of coffee, and the Ethiopians know what’s up—they don’t just sip their brews in silence. Coffee is often served with popcorn and bread. Carbs and coffee? Say less, we’re on our way.  
 
Regional flare & flavor...  
 
There are three regions in Ethiopia known for coffee growing: Sidamo, Yirgacheffe and Harrar. With differences in climate and elevation, flavors vary from region to region.  

No matter where you get your Ethiopian beans from, you’re guaranteed a delicious cup of coffee. That being said, Yirgacheffe is considered the mother of all Ethiopian coffee with some of the best in the world.  
 
Next time you get your hands on some Ethiopian gold, brew it up and pour some out for Kaldi, those righteous goats and the motherland of one of the greatest crops on Earth. We don’t know where we’d be without them. But we’d definitely be tired.  
  
(And if you are just now realizing it's Mother's Day & you forgot a gift... here you go.)