Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world, and millions of people enjoy it every day. But did you know that there are several fun facts about coffee? Coffee was called “koffie” (Dutch) before it became popular. It was only in the 16th Century that it was made famous by the name “coffee”. Learn more about coffee before you order your coffee.
20 fascinating facts about coffee
Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world, with an estimated 400 to 500 billion cups consumed per year. We all drink coffee every day, but we don’t know much about the history, origins or relationship it has to our lives. If you have a thirst for knowledge, read on to discover 20 fascinating facts about coffee that will make you stand out at your next trivia night.
For instance, coffee was the first food to undergo lyophilization, which involves deep freezing under high pressure. Coffee plantations are regularly targeted by armed gangs because of its high value. Kenya has established a special task force of police to protect coffee fields from these gangs.
The first documented ban on coffee occurred in 1511, when leaders in Mecca said that it would cause radical thinking and stimulate the body. In the eighteenth-century, the Swedish government banned coffee paraphernalia. Nevertheless, Pope Clement VII was not willing to ban the beverage, and declared it to be delicious. Finland is the largest coffee drinker in all of the world.
Ethiopia is where coffee was first discovered. Kaldi, a goat herder, discovered the first coffee tree in Ethiopia and reported it the the local monastery. The monks made a beverage out of the beans that spread throughout the Middle East, Northern Africa, and the Middle East. The importer of tea brought the beverage to Britain in the seventeenth century.
Coffee contains high levels of antioxidants and nutrients that boost the metabolism. It also lowers the risk of diseases such as type-2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and certain types of cancer. Drinking coffee is beneficial for the liver.
Origin
The history of coffee dates back to the 13th century when the first coffee bean was discovered in Yemen. It is likely that ancient humans consumed the berries and mixed them with animal fat. These berries were eventually brought to Yemen by traders who used the port of Mocha. It was very popular once it reached Arabia. It was called “Wine of Araby” because alcohol was prohibited in the region.
Coffee plants can be either trees or shrubs. Their origin is uncertain. Some say that the word coffee is derived from the Ethiopian word ‘kaffa,’ but others say that the English word is derived from the Turkish word kahve, which means ‘bean’ and is derived from the Arabic word qaha, meaning ‘drink’.
Coffee’s history is largely based upon oral tradition, and was not known before the 15th century. There is evidence that coffee was used as a concentration aid by Sufi monasteries of Yemen. The beverage also spread to other parts in the Levant and Persia in the early sixteenth century. Later, coffee reached Ottoman Empire where it became a popular beverage and eventually reached the Indian subcontinent as well as the East Indies.
The Spanish colonies received coffee much later. The Dutch started importing coffee to Europe in the 18th century. It was considered a drink for Muslims, but Christian Europeans embraced it and began importing coffee. Despite these initial obstacles, coffee spread to America as well as Indonesia. A few centuries later, the Dutch and British companies began cultivating the plant.
Health benefits
Drinking coffee can be beneficial for your health. A meta-analysis of studies on the health effects and safety of coffee found that the beverage can be consumed at normal levels. In addition, it was found that drinking coffee is more likely to improve health outcomes than harm it. Coffee may be good for your health, but it can also cause you harm if not used properly.
There are many health benefits to drinking coffee, especially for older adults. It is rich in antioxidants and other essential nutrients that can keep you healthy longer. Drinking too much coffee can cause side effects like jitters. Excessive coffee consumption can cause intestinal problems. It is important to limit your intake. The FDA recommends that you limit your daily intake to 400 mg of caffeine. This is equivalent to four cups.
Coffee can also protect your heart and help prevent arterial damage from inflammation. Certain types of cancer may be prevented by coffee. According to a study conducted at Harvard School of Public Health, men who drink more than four cups of coffee per day have a 25% lower risk of developing aggressive prostate cancer. Coffee has been shown to reduce the risk of liver, colon, and breast cancers.
Coffee is high in polyphenols, which act as antioxidants and protect the body from free radical damage. Free radicals are toxins that damage cells and can cause inflammation. They’re also linked to metabolic syndrome, and coffee may help reduce the risk of developing it.
Bans
Coffee bans are a historical phenomenon that involves many complicated, multidirectional processes. While the bans initially sought to limit the international trade of coffee, their main purpose was to improve the finances of the state. The 17th century prohibitions had many consequences. They led to the creation of coffee as a common good, and a form collective performance.
Sweden was the first country to ban coffee. They feared that coffee might decimate the wine and beer industries. The bans were often implemented during political turmoil. But, coffee bans did not last for very long. Eventually, higher authorities overturned the bans. However, people were still allowed to drink copious amounts of coffee.
In addition, the bans on coffee in Stockholm led to the rise of a black market. Bans made it illegal for women in Stockholm to sell coffee. Poor women responded by starting their own business. 28% of these women were actually imprisoned and 23% were fined.
Bans on coffee were a common occurrence in the Middle Ages. The Dutch East India Company took coffee plants with them to Java when they left the country. This region became the home of coffee for many centuries. The ban on coffee in Sweden is not as widespread as in France and the UK.
Famous coffee drinkers
Coffee is an integral part of our culture. From artists and scientists to politicians and writers, many people are famous for drinking coffee. The beverage has been around since the 15th century, and many famous people are seen drinking it in public or in the media. Johann Sebastian Bach and Voltaire are two of the most famous coffee drinkers.
Voltaire, a satirist, is another famous coffee drinker. He consumed between 40 and 50 cups of coffee each day, sometimes mixing it with chocolate. He survived to the age of eighteen despite being warned by doctors that coffee could kill him. Other famous coffee drinkers include Soren Kierkegaard, who reportedly took 30 sugar cubes with his coffee.
In the past, coffee consumption was taboo and was not done in public. Coffee was a taboo drink and people used communal bowls to enjoy it, much like wine. This led to negative attitudes towards coffee. It also linked it with alcohol. Many people today love coffee and are passionate about it.
Some famous coffee drinkers have even created coffee lines! Leonardo DiCaprio’s “Lyon” coffee line focuses on environmentally sustainable production methods, and all profits go to his family’s fund. Hugh Jackman also launched his own coffee line and donates 50% to educational charities. Even pop star Jason Mraz has taken up the habit.
I’m Arf. I love coffee – the smell, the taste, and everything in between. I spent years as a barista and learned a lot about coffee during that time. Now it’s my turn to share my experience with others. I want to help people learn more about coffee and enjoy it as much as I do.
