When Goats Discovered Energy
Rea,
Sometimes the most important discoveries happen when we’re simply paying attention to the world around us. This is especially true when we have quiet moments without distractions - even when we might feel a little bored.
In the highlands of Ethiopia around the 9th century, a goat herder named Kaldi spent his days watching over his goats. His job involved long hours of quiet observation with little entertainment beyond the natural world around him. Day after day, he would sit and watch, becoming familiar with his goats’ normal behaviors.
One day, Kaldi noticed something unusual. His normally calm goats were acting strangely energetic, almost dancing and leaping around. He watched carefully and realized they had been eating bright red berries from a particular bush. Kaldi faced a choice: ignore this odd behavior or investigate further out of curiosity.
Imagine if Kaldi had been a modern goat herder, perhaps scrolling through a smartphone during those long hours. Would he have even noticed the goats’ unusual behavior? Would one of the world’s most popular drinks have remained undiscovered?
Fortunately for coffee lovers everywhere, Kaldi chose to investigate. He tried the berries himself and soon felt unusually alert and energetic. Amazed by this discovery, he gathered some berries and took them to a nearby monastery. The monks were initially skeptical, calling the berries “devil’s fruit” and throwing them into a fire. But the enticing aroma that rose from the roasting beans changed their minds.
The monks ground the roasted beans, mixed them with water, and created the world’s first cup of coffee. They found that drinking this new beverage helped them stay awake during long hours of prayer and study. Soon they began cultivating the plant and brewing the berries regularly.
This discovery, born from quiet observation, spread from Ethiopia to Yemen and across the Arab world by the 15th century. Coffee houses emerged as centers of conversation and connection. By the 17th century, coffee had reached Europe and eventually the Americas. Today, over 2 billion cups of coffee are consumed worldwide every day.
Kaldi’s simple act of paying attention transformed a local berry into a global phenomenon. His story reminds us that observation is like a magnifying glass - it helps us see small details in the world that might lead to big discoveries. Being present and observant, without constant distraction, allowed him to notice something that would change the world.
Love, Abba
