The Enjoyment of Coffee and Music

Coffee has a rich history that can be traced back to ancient Ethiopia, where legend says it was discovered by a goat herder names Kaldi. After noticing that his goats became energetic after eating berries from a certain tree, Kaldi reported his findings to the abbot of a local monastery, who made a drink with the berries and found it kept him alert during long hours of evening prayer.

As the drink spread east to the Arabian Peninsula in the 15th century, it was being cultivated in the Yemeni district of Arabia and by the 16th century it was known in Persia, Egypt, Syria, and Turkey.

 Coffee was not only enjoyed in homes, but also in coffee houses — called qahveh khaneh — which began to appear in cities across the Near East. Patrons not only drank coffee, but also listened to music, watched performances, played chess, and kept up with the news. These coffee houses were known as “Schools of the Wise” and became centers for the exchange of information.

The popularity of coffee quickly spread across Europe and replaced traditional breakfast drinks, leading to an improved quality of work. This new magical drink even inspired Johann Sebastien Bach to write Schweigt stille, plaudert nicht (Be still, stop chattering), BWV 211 (the Coffee Cantata), a satirical cantata amusingly telling of an addiction to (or rather dependence on) coffee. Read our article about the Coffee Cantata here.

You can get your copy of the score for the Coffee Cantata here.

Is there a better drink to have as you practice this Cantata than Bach Coffee?

We've all had to say "I Can't I Have Rehearsal" at some point in our musical journey this is what makes this the perfect mug!

If you're not a big coffee fan, don't worry we have you covered! You can try this Hawaiian Coffee Berry extract and enjoy the energetic experience the way it was first discovered!