There’s one thing we know about coffee: we can’t go a day without it, and it’s always a life saver along with a mouth-watering beverage option. But there are some surprising facts behind coffee that are not so well known and will make you raise an eyebrow.
Coffee is the second most sold commodity on earth, after butter. More than 25 million farmers in 50 countries trade in this delicious, fragrant bean.
Coffee was discovered in 800 AD in Ethiopia by shepherds. Apparently, goat herders in the 9th century noticed that caffeine gave their goats energy and made them “dance” after consuming coffee berries. A local monk then made a cup after discovering that it also kept him awake – and so coffee was born.
The world’s most expensive coffee costs a staggering $600 per pound. It is made from Sumatran wild cat feces. The wild cat or Luwak is unable to digest the beans, so they are fermented in the stomach instead. Obviously, it takes on a smooth and chocolatey essence when excreted. Rough, but exciting!
Coffee was the first food substance subjected to freeze-drying. Freeze drying involves placing fresh produce in a -40 Fahrenheit dryer.
The word “espresso” is Italian. We all knew it. But what it actually translates to is “when something is forced out”, referring to the boiling force of the water passing through the pressed coffee grounds.
We all need a cup of our morning drink, but some places consume more than others. Residents of New York drink almost 7 times as much as the rest of the United States, with Finland not far behind, where the average consumer drinks 4-5 cups a day.
Although millions of different places produce coffee beans, there are only two types of beans. Arabica and Robusta exist; 70% of the beans are Arabica. Robusta is rarer due to its bitter nature and the fact that it produces twice as much caffeine.
Drinking coffee reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. It has been found that elderly patients with high levels of caffeine in their blood are more likely to avoid Alzheimer’s disease. It may also act as a preventative against Parkinson’s disease and type 2 diabetes.
Just the smell of coffee can wake you up. Only this wonderful aroma can change the activity of genes in the brain and reduce the effects of sleep deprivation. Time to invest in coffee scented candles.
