Following the discovery of coffee plants by goat-herding tribes in Ethiopia around the 9th century AD, the beans were initially consumed raw or mixed with fats for their stimulant effect. Over the ensuing centuries, coffee seeds crossed the Red Sea into Yemen; a short journey across the Bab al-Mandab strait – but one that would have far-reaching global implications. By the 15th century, coffee was being grown in Yemen and began to be used in beverage form. Sufi monks used this “qahwa” to help them stay awake during long prayer sessions and nocturnal meditations. As demand continued to increase for these small but powerful beans, coffee plantations were established in the Yemeni highlands. The port city of Mocha implemented a fierce protectionist strategy – including the sterilization of exported beans – which ensured they remained the only global producer and exporter of coffee beans for almost 250 years. It was the ultimate historical monopoly.
Hello and welcome to the very first issue of The Brewspaper; your local café newsletter for the central Logan area. New issues will be published on Monday every week, so keep an eye out in your local coffee shop ! We are currently in the following suburbs: Cornubia, Daisy Hill, Loganholme, Loganlea, Meadowbrook, Shailer Park, Tanah Merah, and Waterford West. I hope you enjoy our content over a strong brew. If you have any feedback, suggestions, or just want to say hello, drop me a line at: joel@thebrewspaper.com.au . - Joel (editor-in-chief)
