Did a goatherd and his dancing goats really discover coffee?

Almost certainly not. The tale of Kaldi, the goatherd who watched his goats grow very energetic after nibbling bright red berries, is probably apocryphal. It was first related in a treatise on coffee printed in Rome in 1671, and the name Kaldi itself appears to be a later invention from the 20th century. The earliest account does not even name the herder.

The legend goes on in a way that is easy to remember. After his goats' antics, Kaldi chewed the fruit himself. In the story a monk then threw the berries into a fire, and when a powerful aroma rose he had the embers pulled out and hot water poured over them to preserve the smell. Those who drank the mixture were able to stay alert and discuss important matters for longer.

The documented history is quieter, and just as interesting. Wild coffee plants originated in Ethiopia, but the beverage itself has its roots in Yemen, where Sufi Muslims in the 15th century used it to aid concentration during night prayers. They drank it to keep themselves alert during their nighttime devotions. There is no confirmed historical or archaeological evidence of anyone drinking coffee before the 15th century.

From those Yemeni beginnings coffee became big business. Yemen became the first major production zone and global exporter, dominating the trade for two centuries. So the dancing goats are charming, but the real discoverers were more likely devout night-owls with a long vigil ahead of them.