Coffee Lore from Around the World (Yes, There Are Curses)
From cursed beans to brews that rouse the dead (at least until 9 a.m.), coffee has been the centerpiece of some of the strangest stories and superstitions humanity has ever roasted. Long before it became your daily pick-me-up, it was tangled in myth, ritual, and a whole lot of spiritual suspicion. So pour a cup and settle in—we're going around the world one eerie espresso at a time.
Ethiopia: The Dancing Goats That Started It All
Legend has it that coffee was discovered by a goat herder named Kaldi, who noticed his goats behaving very un-goat-like after munching on some red berries. Curious, he tried them too, and boom—buzzed. The story has stuck around for centuries, serving as a whimsical origin tale for humanity’s favorite bean.
Read more about Kaldi and the origins of coffee from the National Coffee Association
Mecca’s Coffee Ban: Satan in a Cup?
In the 16th century, coffeehouses were booming in the Middle East, but not everyone was thrilled. In Mecca, authorities feared that these lively gatherings bred radical thinking. Some clerics declared coffee a threat to public order and went so far as to call it "the Devil's drink." It was banned, unbanned, and banned again—proving that even back then, people couldn’t agree on their morning ritual.
Smithsonian dives into the devilish debates around coffee
Italy’s Sleepwalking Curse
An old Roman folktale warns of a sleepwalker who took a sip of espresso and never woke up. While likely a cautionary tale against midnight caffeine binges, some still joke that ghosts in Naples look unusually alert. Maybe skip that 10 p.m. doppio?
Finland’s Forest Spirit and the Sacred Coffee Break
Finns are famously the world’s top coffee drinkers, but there's folklore to back up the habit. In rural traditions, skipping your afternoon kaffeepaus (coffee break) wasn’t just rude—it was spiritual neglect. Legends tell of a forest spirit that punishes the un-caffeinated by stealing their souls. So when in Finland, never ghost your 3 p.m. mug.
Learn more about Finland’s coffee culture
Brazil’s Cursed Tree of Minas Gerais
In the misty hills of Minas Gerais, some farmers whisper about a lone coffee tree that produces the perfect bean—aromatic, balanced, and blissfully smooth. But there's a catch: every cup from its crop supposedly takes a year off your life. The taste? Worth it, they say. Maybe.
Haitian Vodou and the Wakeful Dead
In Haitian Vodou, coffee plays a role in spiritual rituals designed to communicate with the dead. It's used as an offering to awaken spirits, but some tales suggest a cursed brew can trap souls between realms—jittery, confused, and doomed to wander. Imagine being eternally stuck in line at a haunted café.
Explore Vodou rituals and coffee's role at the Brooklyn Museum
Japan’s Yokai of Forgetfulness
In one lesser-known tale, a Yokai—those supernatural tricksters of Japanese folklore—offers wanderers a single magical coffee bean. Brew it, sip it, and you’ll forget your deepest regret. But there’s a price: you’ll also forget your favorite song and your dog’s birthday. Is a clean slate worth it? Depends on the regret. And the dog.
Read more on Japan’s deep coffee traditions
Is Your Coffee Haunted?
Maybe it’s the 3 a.m. whisper from your espresso machine. Maybe it’s the stray bean in your sock drawer. Whatever the clue, you might just be living with a haunted bag of beans. If your brew smells like lavender and regret, maybe don’t drink it.
Think your coffee might be cursed—or enchanted? Tell us your weirdest coffee superstition in the comments. And if you’re looking to keep the spirits at bay (or impress them), check out our selection of hauntingly good mugs. We can’t guarantee supernatural protection, but we can promise style.