IELTS Reading Timed Practice

Coffee, one of the world's most beloved beverages, has a rich and fascinating history that spans over a millennium. The story of coffee begins in the ancient highlands of Ethiopia, where legend has it that a goat herder named Kaldi first discovered the energizing effects of coffee beans around 850 AD. According to the tale, Kaldi noticed his goats becoming unusually energetic after eating red berries from certain trees.

From Ethiopia, coffee cultivation spread to Yemen in the 15th century, where Sufi mystics used the beverage to stay alert during lengthy nighttime prayers. The port city of Mocha became a major trading hub for coffee, lending its name to the famous Mocha coffee variety. By the 16th century, coffee had reached the Ottoman Empire, where the world's first coffeehouses opened in Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul).

These Ottoman coffeehouses quickly became centers of intellectual discourse, earning them the nickname "Schools of the Wise." However, their popularity also attracted suspicion from authorities, who feared that political dissent might brew alongside the coffee. Despite periodic bans, coffee culture continued to flourish and spread throughout the empire.

European merchants and travelers encountered coffee in the Ottoman Empire and brought it back to their homelands in the 17th century. Venice, with its strong trading ties to the East, became one of the first European cities to embrace coffee. The first European coffeehouse opened in Venice in 1645, followed by establishments in London (1652), Paris (1672), and Vienna (1683).

The Dutch played a crucial role in breaking the Arab monopoly on coffee cultivation. They successfully grew coffee plants in their colonies in Java (hence "java" as slang for coffee) and Ceylon (modern-day Sri Lanka). The French, Spanish, and Portuguese soon followed suit, establishing coffee plantations in their Caribbean and South American colonies.

The 18th and 19th centuries saw coffee become a global commodity. The Industrial Revolution brought innovations like the espresso machine (invented in Italy in 1884) and instant coffee (developed in 1901). The 20th century witnessed the rise of commercial coffee chains and the "waves" of coffee culture - from convenience-focused instant coffee to artisanal specialty coffee.

Today, coffee is the world's second-most traded commodity after oil, with over 2.25 billion cups consumed daily worldwide. The industry supports the livelihoods of approximately 25 million farming families across more than 50 countries. As consumer preferences evolve toward sustainability and quality, the coffee industry continues to adapt, embracing fair trade practices, organic cultivation, and innovative brewing methods that honor both tradition and innovation.