Coffee is one of the most common (and popular) drinks on the planet. It is as ubiquitous as salt and pepper, and for a good reason—coffee wakes you up, warms you up and is utterly delicious. But how much thought do you give to the evolution of coffee in Pampa, TX when you pick out your favorite mug in the morning? Coffee has a long and storied history. It’s so much more than just the story of a simple bean.
One observant goat herder
Coffee’s history in Pampa, TX and beyond began hundreds of years ago on a completely different continent. While the origins of most modern-day substances have long since been lost, the story of coffee is widely known. As the tale goes, a goat herder named Kaldi stumbled upon a use for coffee sometime before the 15th century. As he was tending his herd, Kaldi noticed that his goats favored the berries from a particular tree. When they’d eat these berries, Kaldi’s goats would get so amped up that they refused to sleep at night.
Kaldi passed on his observations to a monk in a nearby monastery. The monk distilled these berries into a drink, and noticed the same energy-boosting properties.
The birth of the coffee house
By the turn of the 16th century, coffee had become incredibly popular throughout the Arabian Peninsula, as well as in Egypt, Syria and Turkey. The drink became so successful that several public coffee houses (known as qahveh khaneh) began to draw people together for some good brews and some shared stories.
Besides coffee, these qahveh khaneh also showcased local performers, set up chess boards and served as a place where people could catch up on local events. Indeed, it wasn’t long before public coffee houses became known as “Schools of the Wise.”
A nation of coffee drinkers
Though coffee began to spread across the world rapidly, tea remained the most popular beverage throughout Europe and the New World. It wasn’t until 1773 that things began to change. Most U.S. residents know of the Boston Tea Party, when colonists threw barrels of tea into Boston Harbor as a means of protesting unfair taxes on the substance. What most history books don’t report is that, after the Boston Tea Party, many colonial Americans made the switch to coffee full-time.
In fact, coffee became so popular in the country that Thomas Jefferson declared coffee to be the “favorite drink of the civilized world.”
Taste the pinnacle
At Armstrong Coffee Service, we’re proud to do our part in continuing coffee’s evolution in Pampa, TX. Since we opened for business in 2001, we have worked to provide the area’s most delicious coffee to businesses in every industry imaginable.
Our entire purpose is to provide a delicious boost of caffeine, with all the accessories you need. We offer a huge selection of products, including cappuccino, hot chocolate, herbal teas, ciders and so much more. Regardless of what tastes your employees or clients enjoy, we can provide it along with great customer service and unfailing reliability.
Visit us online or give us a call today. We can’t wait to hear from you.