It’s officially our favorite time of the year – National Coffee Month, an entire 30 days dedicated to our favorite brew. Whether you’re sipping it hot, cold, black or blended, coffee has earned its place as a global ritual, energizing millions each day. Beyond the caffeine kick, coffee is full of surprises you may not know. From its quirky origins to surprising facts that make it more than just a morning beverage, we’re diving into some unique and lesser-known tidbits about coffee that will have you appreciating your cup even more!
The Origins of Your Morning Brew
- According to legend, coffee was discovered in the 15th century in Ethiopia by a goat herder named Kaldi, who noticed his goats began “dancing” after eating certain berries. Tasting them himself, he found he too was more alert and energetic. Soon monks in the area were brewing a beverage made from the berries.
- The world’s first coffee house was opened in Istanbul, Turkey in 1475. The coffee house, known as “Kiva Han,” served a wide variety of coffee drinks that had been brought to the city by traders from Yemen, Ethiopia and other parts of the world.
- Drinking coffee became a patriotic duty in America during the Revolutionary War following the Boston Tea Party in 1773.
- Instant coffee was invented in 1901 by Japanese American chemist Satori Kato.
More Than Just a Drink
- Coffee beans are actually the seeds of a coffee cherry, making it a fruit. Each cherry typically contains two coffee beans that are harvested, processed and roasted to create your favorite blends.
- Coffee beans are green and have a smooth texture, with an aroma similar to unroasted nuts or grains when picked. Their aroma and flavor become more complex as they are processed and roasted.
- Coffee boasts a wide array of flavors and aromas, with some even claiming it has more flavor nuances than wine. In fact, there are approximately 100 species within the coffee genus.
- Vineyard and coffee fields share many similarities. The geographic differences of each field, such as elevation, sun exposure, and rainfall, can have impactful effects on the palatable qualities of the crop. Coffee is grown in tropical climates in parts of Africa, Asia, South America and North America.
- Coffee plants grown at a higher elevation produce harder coffee beans, which tend to mature slower, developing more character, deeper flavor and a higher sugar concentration.
- Brazil is the world’s largest coffee producer, accounting for approximately one-third of the world’s total coffee production. This is largely due to its climate and soil conditions, which are ideal for growing coffee, as well as its size.
- Hawaii is the only American state that grows coffee, although Puerto Rico does as well.
A True Global Phenomenon
- Coffee is the world’s second largest traded commodity, only surpassed by crude oil. The coffee trade is worth more than $100 billion worldwide as the world consumes 2.25 billion cups of coffee every year.
- More than half of the U.S.’s adult population drinks coffee every day, believe it or not the U.S. doesn’t even rank in the top 10 globally for coffee consumption. Finland, whose residents enjoy a legally mandated 10-minute coffee break each day, average four cups of coffee per day.
- Americans on average spend $1,092 a year on coffee – that’s around $20 a week.
- The sale of coffee supports more than 25 million smallholder farmers worldwide, most of which are in underdeveloped countries.
- When you purchase fair trade and organic coffee, such as with Farmer Brothers’ new Sum>One Coffee Roasters lineup, you are supporting fair wages and better working conditions for farmers and encouraging environmentally friendly farming practices.
Healthy Perks of Your Daily Cup
- There are a number of health benefits that come with your daily cup of Joe.
Research from Harvard Medical School shows drinking coffee may have connections topreventing illnesses such as high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s Disease and liver cancer. - Coffee is often used by athletes for its performance-enhancing effects, such as improved endurance.
- Hot or cold, black coffee is low in calories and packed with antioxidants. In fact, a cup of black coffee only contains one calorie and helps you burn fat. Studies have shown caffeine can increase your metabolic rate by 3 – 11%, helping you burn more calories throughout the day.
- Thanks to caffeine’s effect on neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, coffee can improve brain function, including memory, mood and reaction time.
Odd Facts We Love
- The term “cup of joe” is believed to have originated from Josephus Daniels, the U.S. Secretary of the Navy during World War I. He banned alcohol on U.S. Navy ships, leading sailors to turn to coffee as their beverage of choice. The name “cup of joe” stuck as a nod to Daniels and his influence on the Navy’s coffee consumption.
- Musician Bach wrote a song about his love for coffee called “The Coffee Cantata.”
- Beethoven was such an ardent coffee lover that he’d count 60 beans per cup before making his brew.
- In 1991, Cambridge University scientists were tired of constantly approaching an empty coffee pot, so they invented the webcam to keep an eye on the amount of coffee available.
- People aren’t the only coffee lovers. Honeybees are attracted to the flowers on coffee trees. When they feed on the nectar of the coffee flowers, they ingest small amounts of caffeine. The effect of caffeine on bees is similar to the effect on humans. It gives them an energy boost, improving concentration and performance.
- Roasting coffee beans can repel insects, and caffeine is a natural pesticide.
- Used coffee grounds are great for your garden. They enrich soil with nitrogen and deter pests like slugs.