The Origin Story of Coffee
How an Ancient Discovery Fuels Brazier Coffee Roasters Today
At Brazier Coffee Roasters, every batch we roast connects back to a story that began more than a thousand years ago – a story filled with curiosity, culture, and the powerful aroma of discovery.
To understand why we obsess over quality, freshness, and ethically sourced beans, it helps to look back at the remarkable origin of coffee itself.
From Ethiopian Highlands to Today's Speciality Coffee
Coffee’s origin traces back to the Ethiopian highlands, where the Coffea arabica plant first grew wild. According to legend, goat herder Kaldi noticed his herd dancing energetically after eating bright red coffee cherries. He tasted them himself and felt the same spark.
Whether myth or truth, Ethiopia remains the heartland of coffee. Its legacy lives on in the specialty beans we roast today at Brazier Coffee Roasters – beans that retain the same vibrancy and character that first captivated the world.
Yemen: Where Coffee Became a Ritual
From Ethiopia, coffee crossed the Red Sea to Yemen, where Sufi monks brewed it to stay awake during long nights of prayer. The drink quickly became known as qahwa, meaning “the drink that prevents sleep.”
Yemen’s port city of Mocha became a global trading hub, and its name still influences modern speciality coffee, inspiring flavour profiles we chase in our roasting process.
At Brazier Coffee Roasters, we honour these early traditions by focusing on slow, intentional roasting that brings out the natural sweetness and complexity of every bean.
The First Coffeehouses: Community, Conversation, Culture
By the 1500s, coffee spread across the Middle East, inspiring the creation of the world’s first coffeehouses – lively spaces where people gathered to talk, play music, debate, and enjoy a freshly brewed cup! These qahveh khaneh became cultural hubs, a tradition that continues today in cafés around the world.
This centuries-old connection between coffee and community is at the core of Brazier Coffee Roasters. Every cup offers an invitation to slow down, share a moment, and savour true craft coffee, something you can experience for yourself when you visit our own café in Wellington.
Once you’ve chosen your brewing equipment, you’ll need to ensure you have the grind size to match. As a general rule, coarser particles should be paired with a longer brewing time (like a plunger), and finer particles should have a shorter brewing time (as with espresso).
Europe's "Penny Universities" and the Global Spread
Coffee reached Europe in the 17th century, transforming cafés into “penny universities” – places where, for the price of a cup, anyone could join conversations about science, philosophy, and politics. The drink’s popularity exploded, eventually fueling a worldwide industry.
Today, coffee is cultivated in more than 70 countries, each with its own terroir and flavour profile. At Brazier Coffee Roasters, we partner with farms committed to ethical sourcing and sustainable growing practices, ensuring each bean reflects both quality and integrity.
From Ancient Beans to Modern Roasts at Brazier Coffee Roasters
The story of coffee is a story of transformation: wild cherries becoming a global ritual, spiritual drink becoming a cultural movement, simple beans becoming a craft we dedicate our lives to perfecting.
At Brazier Coffee Roasters, we carry forward this legacy with:
✔ Small-batch roasting
✔ Single-origin and ethically sourced coffee
✔ Commitment to freshness and flavour
✔ A belief that great coffee is an experience – not just a drink!
Savouring a bright Ethiopian roast or perhaps a rich, darker roast like our Mill Town blend? You’re tasting centuries of history in every cup.
Posted on December 18th 2025
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