Coffee For the European countries coffee is only three hundred years old, but in the Middle East it was very common and widespread as a beverage. The first mentioning goes back to 800 B.C. and even the well-known historian Homer, as well as many Arabian legends, tell us the story of the mysterious black and bitter beverage. It was said to have powers of stimulation. During the second century coffee was also introduced and used as a medicine. By coincidence the berries were boiled and then distilled to obtain a bitter beverage, rich in strength, and capable of dispersing sleep and weariness. The fact remains that the coffee plant was actually born in Africa and well in the Ethiopian region (Kaffa). From there it spread to Yemen, Arabia and Egypt, where it became tremendous popular and became part of the daily life. Late 16e century the first traders were exporting and selling coffee in Europe. The coffee came from Egypt and Turkey but due to the ever growing market more botanical knowledge of the coffee plant was needed. The Dutch with their overseas colonies (Indonesia), the French in Martinique and later the English, Spanish and Portuguese traders, started to export and cultivate the tropical belts of Asia and America with coffee plants. Middle of Brazil was cultivated in the beginning of the 18 century (around 1730) in the area of Rio de Janeiro and finally also to the States of San Paolo and Minas. Now coffee is the most important economic resource of Brazil. Later coffee was spread to the Center and South Americas.