A few years later, in 1718, the Dutch transplanted the coffee to Surinam and soon after the plant became widely established in South America, which was to become the coffee center of the world. 12. Type of Measure: Regulatory Standard In Ethiopia’s province of Kaffa a large proportion of the arabica trees grow wild amidst the rolling hills and forests of the fertile and beautiful region. B. Geographic Site: East Africa (EAFR). Many believed that Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee (not South America, which was to become the coffee center of the world. 12. Type of Measure: Regulatory Standard In Ethiopia’s province of Kaffa a large proportion of the arabica trees grow wild amidst the rolling hills and forests of the fertile and beautiful region. B. Geographic Site: East Africa (EAFR). Many believed that Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee (not South America, which some believe). The indigenous coffee trees (which some experts say, are the only native coffee trees in the world) first grew in ancient "Abyssinia," which is now present day Ethiopia. These trees blossomed in an area called "Kaffa" and the trees were called "Kafa," which may as well be the root word for coffee.2 In the tenth century, coffee was considered a potent medicine, as well as a religious potion that helped keep people wake during prayers. Pilgrims of Islam spread the coffee throughout the Middle East – and is focusing on the US specialty market and Scandinavia. ECEE’s major emphasis.