Coffee’s Origins: The History of How We Drink Coffee

Few beverages have shaped global culture like coffee. From its humble beginnings in the Ethiopian highlands to the sleek takeaway cups of modern city life, coffee has evolved into far more than a drink—it’s a symbol of identity, productivity, and connection. And today, that modern coffee moment increasingly includes sustainable choices—from compostable lids to natural stirrers—because how we drink coffee now isn’t just about taste, it’s about impact.

At HAY! Straws, we’re fascinated by how this one beverage has influenced centuries of human creativity, commerce, and community. As our coffee rituals have changed, so too have the ways we serve, sip, and share it.

This journey through time explores the History of How We Drink Coffee—from its ancient roots to today’s sustainability-driven habits.

1. From Ethiopian Legends to Global Fascination

According to legend, coffee was discovered in the 9th century by an Ethiopian goat herder named Kaldi, who noticed his goats dancing energetically after eating red berries from a particular shrub. Curious, he brought the berries to a nearby monastery, where monks found they could brew them into a drink that kept them alert during long hours of prayer.

From there, coffee began its remarkable journey:

• 9th century: Discovered in Ethiopia
  

• 15th century: Cultivated in Yemen, used by Sufi monks to aid meditation
  

• 16th century: Traded through the port of Mocha, spreading across the Middle East
  
  

In Yemen and Arabia, qahveh khaneh—the world’s first coffeehouses—became hubs of art, poetry, and conversation. Coffee wasn’t just fuel; it was a ritual that connected people and ideas.

“Coffee isn’t just a beverage—it’s an invitation to gather, reflect, and connect.”

2. The Spread of Coffee Culture: From Ottoman Cafés to European Salons

By the 17th century, coffee had reached Europe, igniting what many historians call the Coffee Revolution.

England: “Penny universities” offered intellectual debate for the price of a cup.

France & Italy: Elegant cafés became meeting spots for artists, philosophers, and dreamers.

America: Coffee became a patriotic symbol after the Boston Tea Party, replacing tea as the beverage of choice.

As the coffeehouse scene matured, a new wave emerged: the “third‑wave café,” where quality, origin, and experience became the focus. These cafés shifted the spotlight from simply serving coffee to celebrating it — highlighting single‑origin beans, roasting dates, and manual brewing techniques, and turning baristas into craftmakers rather than just bar‑istas. Pioneers in this movement emphasised transparency in sourcing, lighter roasts, and café spaces designed for connection rather than quick takeaway.

In this way, third‑wave cafés helped define how modern coffee shops operate today — and they laid the foundation for our current emphasis on sustainability and sustainable accessories, from lids to stirrers, that support the craft and culture of coffee.

3. Evolution of Coffee Serving: From Ceramics to Convenience

As coffee traveled the globe, so did the methods and materials used to serve it.

In the Ottoman Empire: Coffee was poured into small, handleless cups called fincan, designed to preserve aroma.

In Europe: Ornate porcelain mugs became symbols of wealth and sophistication.

Across Asia: Tea traditions influenced minimalist and mindful serving styles.

In the early 20th century, as takeaway shops emerged, cafés began offering simple wooden stir sticks and wax-coated paper cups—early versions of the tools we still recognize today. By mid-century, convenience became the priority, and plastic lids and plastic stirrers were introduced because they were cheap, moldable, heat-resistant, and mass-producible. This shift helped fuel the rise of coffee “to go”, but it also triggered a new problem—disposable plastics quickly became a normal part of daily coffee culture, and billions of them are still thrown away every year.

The Coffee Lid as a Modern Icon

Once just a practical tool to prevent spills, the coffee lid quickly became part of city life. The “sip-through lid”, invented in the 1980s, made it possible to carry your coffee anywhere,—to work, to meetings, or on a morning walk—without pausing your day, turning a simple cup into a symbol of rhythm, routine, and urban culture,  and a reminder of why sustainable alternatives matter.

From Silver Spoons to Sustainable Stirrers

Before single-use culture took hold, coffee was stirred with metal spoons in cafés or wooden paddles at home—tools meant to last, not to waste. The postwar convenience boom of the 1950s replaced these with disposable plastic stirrers, a quick fix that came at an environmental cost. Billions of these tiny tools are now used and tossed every year, often ending up in landfills or waterways. At HAY! Straws, we create natural hay and bamboo alternatives, showing that even the smallest accessory can make a big difference reducing plastic waste.

As coffee culture evolved from handcrafted rituals to on-the-go convenience, our habits—and the tools we use—began to reflect who we are, setting the stage for today’s modern coffee culture of identity, innovation, and sustainability.

4. Modern Coffee Culture: Ritual, Identity, and Responsibility

Grabbing a coffee is more than a caffeine fix; it’s part of who we are. From a carefully crafted pour-over to a quick to-go espresso, coffee represents creativity, connection, and rhythm. The takeaway cup is more than a vessel—it’s a marker of daily routine, productivity, and city life. In major cities, holding one has become a cultural signal, reflecting focus, movement, and the pace of modern life. By choosing eco-friendly lids and stirrers from HAY! Straws, we can enjoy our coffee while caring for the planet.

But this modern coffee habit comes with a serious ecological cost. Every year, over 500 billion disposable cups are used, including more than 16 billion plastic coffee lids and billions of plastic stirrers, many of which end up in landfills or oceans. What were once symbols of convenience now reflect the broader impact of our choices.

Fortunately, a new chapter is unfolding. The global coffee movement is embracing sustainability—through reusable cups, ethically sourced beans, and compostable accessories. The story of coffee is no longer just about taste or tradition; it’s about taking care of the planet that sustains it.

5. Our Role in Coffee’s Next Chapter: Brewing a Sustainable Future

Coffee’s journey reflects how we live and connect—a story of discovery, community, and change. From Kaldi’s goats in Ethiopia to the busy cafés of today, each era has added a new dimension to how we enjoy and share coffee. Today, sustainability is shaping the way we drink, and small choices can have a big impact.

At HAY! Straws, we’re helping cafés, restaurants, and individuals make those choices easier by offering natural, compostable coffee accessories. Our eco-friendly innovations include:Natural Stir Sticks: Made from renewable hay (wheat stems)—sturdy, compostable, and perfect for hot or cold beverages, they replace single-use plastics without sacrificing quality, and they’re already being used successfully in modern cafés.

Compostable Coffee Lids: Plant-based lids that snap perfectly onto takeaway cups, keeping your coffee secure and your café sustainable without sacrificing convenience.

Choosing products like these isn’t just about what’s in the cup—it’s about how it’s served. Thoughtful choices help preserve our environment and support a culture of care. Every cup served with sustainable accessories tells a story of responsibility, connection, and respect for the world around us. At HAY! Straws, we’re proud to make every coffee moment a little more sustainable.