When was the commercialization of coffee initiated?

The popularity of coffee continued to spread across the Muslim world and into Persia, Turkey, and North Africa. In the early 17th century, coffee reached the shores of Europe, first appearing in Venice, Italy, and later spreading to other European cities such as Paris, London, and Amsterdam.

Coffeehouses quickly became popular gathering places in European cities, attracting scholars, artists, merchants, and intellectuals. These establishments played a significant role in shaping the intellectual and cultural landscape of Europe during the Age of Enlightenment, providing a space for lively debate, the exchange of ideas, and the birth of new literary and philosophical movements.

As demand for coffee grew, so did the need for its cultivation. European colonial powers, particularly the Dutch and the French, established coffee plantations in their overseas colonies, most notably in regions of present-day Indonesia, the Caribbean, and South America. The introduction of coffee cultivation to the New World, particularly in countries like Brazil, Colombia, and Haiti, would revolutionize the global coffee industry and contribute to the proliferation of coffee as a commodity crop.

Today, coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world, with an estimated 2.25 billion cups consumed every day. Its rich and storied history, from its humble origins in the highlands of Ethiopia to its global spread and cultural significance, continues to fascinate and captivate coffee lovers around the world.