Legend describes a ninth-century, Ethiopian goatherd named Kaldi finding his flock up on their hind legs dancing after eating coffee cherries. Or, as is more likely (though less colorful), he noticed they were perkier than usual and they didn’t sleep that night. Kaldi reported his findings to the local abbot (“Those blasted goats annoyed the bejesus outta me last night.”). The abbot then boiled the berries and noticed he was more alert for that evening’s prayer. He then made a few more cups to share with the rest of the monastery, and the good word about coffee spread.
