The Amazing History of Coffee: ESL Activities

50-minute English Lesson

In this ESL activities lesson, ELL students learn how the humble coffee tree moved around the world and became a global drink.

Read the story

ESL activities Coffee

Here’s a story about money, power, and love. This is the story of coffee.

Nobody knows when coffee was first made. We do know that the coffee business started in the Middle East in the 1300s. By the 1600s, coffee was popular in Europe.

Some people in Europe wanted their own coffee trees. That was a problem. Coffee trees only grew in the Middle East. The people who controlled these trees didn’t want to sell them.

In the late 1600s, a Dutch company took some coffee seeds and planted them on some warm islands in Indonesia. Today, that country is the world’s fourth-largest coffee grower.

Some French people played an important role in spreading coffee around the world. In 1712, a French officer visited the French King. The King showed the officer a coffee tree. The officer asked for some seeds. The King said no. Later that night, the officer went to the garden, took some seeds, and planted them on a small island called Martinique.

Coffee trees in Martinique grew well. Over the next 100 years, seeds from these trees were planted in South and Central America. Today, 90% of all coffee in the world comes from Martinique trees.

The French helped Brazil start its coffee business, in a strange way. In 1727, Brazil sent a handsome man to a small country. After completing his work, he asked the French government for some coffee seeds. The French said no.

The young man made a plan. He had a secret love affair with the wife of the French leader. When he left the country, she gave him flowers. There were coffee seeds in the flowers. A gift from a secret girlfriend is how Brazil’s coffee industry started.

Coffee is a great drink. It also has a wonderful history filled with interesting stories.

Listen without reading

ESL activities listen to the Coffee story

English listening lesson: Gap Fill

Listen to the story again and fill in the blanks.

Here’s a story about money, __________ , and love. This is the story of coffee.

Nobody __________ when coffee was first made. We do know that the coffee business started in the Middle East in the __________ . By the 1600s, coffee was __________ in Europe.

Some people in Europe wanted their own coffee __________ . That was a problem. Coffee trees only grew in the Middle East. The people who __________ these trees didn’t want to sell them.

In the late __________ , a Dutch company took some coffee seeds and planted them on some warm __________ in Indonesia. Today, that country is the world’s __________ coffee grower.

Some French people played an important role in __________ coffee around the world. In __________ , a French officer visited the French King. The King showed the __________ a coffee tree. The officer asked for some __________ . The King said no. Later that night, the officer went to the __________ , took some seeds, and __________ them on a small island called Martinique.

Coffee trees in Martinique grew __________ . Over the next __________ years, seeds from these trees were planted in South and __________ America. Today, __________ of all coffee in the world comes from Martinique trees.

The French __________ Brazil start its coffee business, in a strange way. In __________ , Brazil sent a __________ man to a small country. After completing his work, he __________ the French government for some coffee seeds. The French said no.

The young man made a plan. He had a __________ love affair with the wife of the French leader. When he left the country, she gave him __________ . There were coffee seeds in the flowers. A __________ from a secret __________ is how Brazil’s coffee industry __________ .

Coffee is a great drink. It also has a __________ history filled with __________ stories.

ESL discussion questions

Talk about the esl story.

1. Where does the story take place?
2. Retell the story of how coffee seeds first arrived in Brazil.
3. The story mentions three countries with coffee trees. What are they?
4. How does coffee influence our social life and economy?
5. How much coffee do you drink every day?

Synonym match

MATCH THE WORD OR PHRASE ON THE LEFT WITH THE CORRECT SYNONYM.

ESL listening activity: anagrams

MOVE THE LETTERS. MAKE A WORD FROM THE ESL LISTENING STORY.

1. UWEDRFLNO
2. CSRETE
3. SDLNASI
4. OEOLNTLDCR
5. RWEOP
6. DVETIIS

Writing practice

Write the five sentences. Put the words in the correct order.

1. seeds / coffee / the / were / in / flowers / There
2. their / trees / wanted / Europe / in / own / Some / coffee / people
3. showed / tree / The / officer / King / a / the / coffee
4. started / secret / girlfriend / a / from / coffee / how / is / Brazil’s / industry / A / gift
5. these / didn’t / people / controlled / to / want / The / sell / who / trees / them

Another ESL listening story

Try this free English activities lesson about a famous invention. Learn about Elisha Otis, the man who invented the elevator brake and changed the history of cities.

Watch a video and take notes

Did you like this ESL activities lesson about coffee? Click to watch a video about coffee and practice your note-taking skills.

1. Watch the video.
2. Take notes.
3. Make a list of at least seven facts.

Get the worksheet

Want to print out these ESL listening activities? Click to download the PDF worksheet.