Coffee History MOC¶
This MOC covers the history of coffee from its legendary Ethiopian origins in the 9th century through the Arabian cultivation era, the rise of European coffeehouse culture, the commodity decades of the first wave, the coffeehouse renaissance of the second wave, and the quality-focused third wave that defined specialty coffee from the 2000s onward. It brings together biographical notes on the pioneers who shaped the modern industry alongside chronological articles marking the sector's key turning points. Related histories of competition, processing, and equipment are covered in their own MOCs.
Coffee History Overview¶
| Note | Description |
|---|---|
| Origins of Coffee | Ethiopian origins, Yemen, coffeehouses, colonial spread — up to the first wave |
| First Wave Coffee | 1860s–1960s commodity and canned coffee era |
| Second Wave Coffee | 1966–2000s coffeehouse culture and espresso expansion |
| Third Wave Coffee | 2000s–present quality, origin, and transparency focus |
| Instant Coffee Development | Industrial soluble coffee technology |
| 1990s Specialty Expansion | Growth era for US specialty coffee |
| 2000s Third Wave Emergence | The critical formative decade of the third wave |
| Early Specialty Roasters | Pioneer businesses of the 1970s–1980s |
| Coffee as Commodity | Commodity trading era and its legacy |
| Supermarket Coffee Brands | Mainstream commercial brands |
| Erna Knutsen | Coined the term "specialty coffee" in 1974 |
| Alfred Peet | Peet's Coffee 1966; the Peet's school of dark roasting |
| George Howell | Coffee Connection founder; Cup of Excellence co-founder |
| 1996 - Q Grader Programme Established | CQI founding and Q Grader certification history |
| 2020s Sustainability Focus | Sustainability as a defining movement value |
Related MOCs¶
- Specialty Coffee MOC — parallel coverage of third-wave identity, ethics, and culture
- Quality Control MOC — certification, grading, and cupping standards
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