Confessions of a Coffee Addict; Raised in a “Coffee Cultural Society”

History of Coffee

The legends of Kaldi, the goat herder originates in the Ethiopian highlands, where coffee trees grow wild. Though uncertain, there probably is some truth to the Kaldi legend whose roots can be traced to the ancient forests groves on the Ethiopian plateau. It is said that Kaldi discovered coffee after noticing that his goats, upon eating berries from a distinct tree that resembles a bush became so energetic that they became restless and constantly moved around throughout the night.

After recognizing the effects he dutifully reported his findings to the abbot of the local monastery who made a drink with the berries and discovered that it helped him stay alert for the long hours of prayer and study. Soon there after, knowledge of the energizing effects of the berries spread.

Coffee comes to the Arabian Peninsula

As word traveled east and coffee reached the Arabian Peninsula, coffee’s reputation spread like wildfire across the world. Coffee’s humble beginnings kicked off with the Arabians’ who were known as the first to cultivate coffee and also to begin its trade. By the fifteenth century, coffee was being grown in the Yemeni district of Arabia and by the sixteenth century it became well known in Persia, Egypt, Syria and Turkey.

Long ago coffee was the preferred drink in homes and also in the many public coffee places -- called qahveh khaneh -- appearing in cities across the Near East. Coffee was traded and sold to European nations by the mid-to-late 1500's. Italy soon followed after possibly being inspired by stories from travelers, establishing her own coffeehouses - opening the first coffee shop in 1640.

Its popularity ranks only second to tea as the beverage most often preferred by consumers. This in part, is due, from Muslims forbidding alcoholic beverages. The Koran found coffee and its energizing properties an appropriate substitute. Consequently, the bitter, black, beverage with its magical entities spread to other nations.

As the popularity of coffee houses grew the black gold’s addicting effects took place and a new way of life began. Coffee houses today mimic the old gathering places where people engaged in conversation, music, business and social networking. Coffee has become a major commodity in countries around the world including Asia or Africa, Central or South America and the islands of the Caribbean or Pacific.

Now that we have explored the history of ‘coffee”, its origin, and how it influenced the world's beverage consumption - let’s examine some of the personal health affects coffee has on individuals. Keeping this in mind, here are some of the telltale signs of a coffee addict.

20 signs of a Coffee Addict

• Coffee cravings; morning, noon or night
• Automatically stopping at all coffee shops - day or night
• Experiencing jitters after drinking coffee or having withdrawals such as headaches.
• Morning cravings; coffee before food or other nourishment
• Using the restroom between five to ten times before Noon
• All breaks and lunches include coffee
• Dream about coffee
• Start buying bolder, more robust brands
• People have to water down your coffee in order to drink it
• Friends make comments that your coffee could grow hair on their chest regardless of their sex
• Take a trip to a foreign country and look for different types of coffee they sell
• Have to get a second job to pay for your coffee consumption
• Prefer coffee to sex
• Get your caffeine fix using other means such as; ice cream, cookies, cakes or chocolate- covered coffee beans
• Start turning your nose up at tea and other beverages
• Coffee binges – don’t understand why coffee shops aren’t open 24 hours like some grocery stores
• Cupboards are bare except for several large cans of coffee, creamers or sweeteners
• You can sniff coffee from a mile away
• Finding ways to afford your coffee; coupons, sales or blue light special at K-Mart
• Start writing blogs and researching coffee on line

This blog was written to inspire all readers to explore their own addictions to coffee. Perhaps it will help you recall your personal experience with coffee and share it with others? This information is shared to help us better understand why we have become a “Coffee Culture Society “. It further illustrates how our addictions are affecting our behavior. When all is said and done we can look to the 'Serenity Prayer' for help or relief.

Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change ... Courage to change the things I can’t ... And the wisdom to know the difference between a good cup of coffee or bad one!