A Treatise Concerning the Properties and Effects of Coffee

Benjamin Moseley’s A Treatise Concerning the Properties and Effects of Coffee provides an origin story for coffee culture. According to a “ludicrous tale,” a Yemeni goat herder noticed his restless flock after they foraged on shrubs and berries. A religious official tried the same concoction and began dancing, realizing it could keep Dervishes awake during prayers. Moseley, an early coffee connoisseur, praised proper roasting techniques and highlighted coffee’s benefits: combating lethargy, aiding digestion, and even curing dysentery. The treatise reflects Moseley’s medical interest in coffee and its widespread adoption in the Middle East. — ISBN13: 9798325106651