Coffee is perhaps the most famous beverage on the planet. For many, it’s a ritual and a social glue that shapes the trajectory of every single day. But the story of coffee isn’t simply about how it came to fill cups across the globe; it’s a tale that has been woven from the threads of religion, science, empire, labor, and rebellion.
Caffeine in particular is the world’s most widely used drug. This dark beverage has helped forge communities and fuel revolutions. It has built economies and destroyed ecosystems. It has been praised as a gift and even condemned as a vice. Humans have certainly been hooked on its roasted potency.
But where did coffee come from? And how did it spread to every part of the planet and almost every household worldwide? Click through this gallery to find out.