Coffee Legends and the Rise of a Global Community CTUTP - 32

Myths, Monks, and the Global Spread of Coffee

• Unpack the legendary tale of Kaldi and his energetic goats, and how coffee’s appeal was first recognised on the Ethiopian plateau.

• Trace coffee’s journey from mystical discovery to daily ritual—its migration via Arabian monasteries, the creation of early coffee houses, and their role as 'Schools of the Wise'.

• Kevin shares a story about experimenting with Mocha Java blends—honouring centuries-old connections between the Yemeni port of Mocha and Java’s Dutch plantations.

Cafés, Creativity, and Connection: The Social Power of Coffee

• Explore the explosion of coffee houses in Europe and their transformation into hubs of conversation, commerce, and creativity—like London’s 'penny universities' and the birthplace of Lloyd’s of London.

• Discuss the pivotal moment when coffee overtook tea in American culture, and the coffee waves that echoed across the U.S. and beyond.

• Brian recalls how a local café’s vibrant, creative crowd inspired him to blend coffee with brainstorming in his early days as a startup.

Coffeepreneurs: From Visionaries to Global Brands

• Spotlight trailblazers like Alfred Peet, Erna Knutsen, and Howard Schultz—how they shaped specialty coffee, broke barriers, and built global communities.

• Illustrate unique journeys, like James Freeman’s Blue Bottle launch from a kitchen and Phil Jaber’s secret blend experiments at his grocery store.

• Kevin reflects on collaborating with other café owners to create blends for charity events, highlighting coffee’s power to unite entrepreneurs for a cause.