Who first invented coffee?

The exact origin of coffee is a bit of a mystery, but the most widely accepted story credits a goat herder named Kaldi in Ethiopia.

Here's the legend:

* Kaldi noticed his goats acting strangely energetic after eating berries from a certain tree.

* He tried the berries himself and experienced the same energizing effect.

* He shared the berries with monks at a nearby monastery, who discovered that they could stay awake through long prayers after consuming them.

* The monks roasted the berries and brewed them in water, creating the first coffee beverage.

However, there's no definitive proof of this story, and the exact origin remains uncertain.

What we do know:

* Coffee was cultivated in Ethiopia for centuries before it spread to the rest of the world.

* The first coffee houses opened in Yemen in the 15th century.

* Coffee then spread to the Ottoman Empire, Europe, and eventually the Americas.

So while Kaldi's story is a popular legend, the true invention of coffee is likely a more complex story with contributions from multiple cultures.