Ethiopian goatherd found his flock frolicking about after munching on coffee cherries. He sampled a few and was soon gambolling along with his goats. From humble beginnings as both food and drink for African tribesmen. coffee evolved into a global phenomenon of extravagant proportions. coffee usually ranks second only to petroleum in dollar value. 25 million people depend upon it for their livelihood. uncounted millions down it by the potful. a killing frost, which, in 1975. damaged nearly half of the country’s three billion coffee trees. sent retail prices into orbit. in June 1979….. Frost had again hit southern Brazil