Who Brought Coffee to Africa?

Although it is not native to the continent of Africa, coffee is frequently connected with it. Ethiopia is home to the Coffea plant, which was first identified there in the 11th century. However, coffee did not start to spread over the continent until the 16th century.

Arab traders are thought to have introduced the coffee plant to the port of Mocha in Yemen before bringing it to Africa. It then spread to other regions of the Arabian Peninsula and eventually reached Africa from there.

It takes the coffee plant three to four years to reach maturity and start bearing fruit. It needs a warm climate with average daily highs of 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit and soil that drains well. Coffee is best grown between 2,000 and 6,000 feet above sea level.

Coffee cultivation is a difficult and time-consuming procedure. Production is expensive, and farmers frequently lack access to tools like credit, education, and technology. Additionally, it is challenging for farmers to plan and budget because coffee prices fluctuate on the international market.

As a result, a large number of African coffee farmers are poor. Despite being one of the most traded commodities worldwide, coffee producers frequently receive relatively little of the rewards. Farmers might only get 1–2% of the whole sale price.

In conclusion, Arab traders introduced coffee to Africa in the 16th century. The maturation of the coffee plant takes several years, and the soil and climate conditions are crucial for its growth. Many African farmers become poor as a result of the challenging and frequently unsatisfying nature of the coffee farming industry. Despite this, coffee continues to play a significant role in African culture and commerce.