World Coffee Day: From Ethiopia to the world
The drink originated in the highlands of Ethiopia, the natural home of the Coffea arabica plant, while the Oromo people are believed to have first noticed the stimulating effects of its seeds.
From a drink associated with religious rituals in a small region of Ethiopia to a daily staple consumed by billions, coffee has travelled a long way.
As the world marks World Coffee Day today (1 October), the beverage's history also highlights the growing challenges facing the industry.
More than two billion cups of coffee are consumed worldwide every day.
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The drink originated in the highlands of Ethiopia, the natural home of the Coffea arabica plant, while the Oromo people are believed to have first noticed the stimulating effects of its seeds.
Historical records suggest Sufis in Yemen were among the earliest devoted coffee drinkers outside Africa during the Middle Ages, using caffeine to stay awake during religious practices. Coffee later spread through the Middle East and Ottoman Empire before reaching Europe in the 17th century.
European coffee houses became important social and commercial meeting places, while colonial powers later introduced coffee cultivation to Asia and South America.
Today, Brazil, Vietnam and Colombia are the world's biggest coffee producers, while the United States, Germany and France are among the biggest importers. Germany and France are major coffee importers, while the US was the world's largest coffee importer by value in 2025.
Coffee has since evolved into more than a caffeine fix. Coffee shops are widely regarded as social spaces where people meet, work and connect, helping drive the drink's global popularity.
Demand has also grown rapidly in Asia. Coffee consumption in South and East Asia increased nearly fourfold between 1992/93 and 2016/17, with the region's share of global consumption rising from 5% to 12%.
But as coffee consumption rises, climate change is creating uncertainty for its future.
Arabica coffee is particularly sensitive to temperature and rainfall, thriving within a relatively narrow temperature range. Recent research puts its optimal average annual temperature at around 15–25C.
Studies have projected significant losses in suitable areas for Arabica cultivation in Brazil by 2050. Researchers also warn that changing temperatures could make traditional growing areas unsuitable while opening up higher-altitude regions.
Scientists and farmers are therefore exploring hardier coffee varieties and selective breeding that could help plants withstand changing conditions without losing their flavour.
On World Coffee Day, the global celebration of the drink comes with a reminder: sustaining the world's love for coffee will depend not only on how much we consume, but also on whether farmers can continue growing it in a rapidly changing climate.
