If an enthusiast ever came up with the idea to collect all the interesting facts about coffee, they could create a voluminous monograph, and still probably miss some interesting information or anecdote. It's hardly surprising – over years of presence in human consciousness, coffee has written many beautiful stories. It has effectively faced adversities on its path to win the affection of more and more people. Love for it connected representatives of various social classes – aromatic beans held a place of honor both in royal courts and in burghers' homes. It's similar in modern times, when coffee is an egalitarian drink – enjoyed by rich and poor, young and old alike.
In today's article, we present a lesser-known side of this extraordinary product. We present various interesting facts about coffee and show how this drink has evolved from ancient times to the present. So brew your favorite coffee and immerse yourself in reading!
How was coffee discovered?
Coffee is a drink whose extraordinary history provides numerous interesting facts. Many mysteries are hidden in the very topic of discovering the properties of the fruits of this plant. There are various assumptions and legends that explain the genesis of the coffee phenomenon – we present two of the most important below.
The domino effect, or how goat hyperactivity contributed to the invention of the coffee machine
One of the most frequently mentioned stories says that we owe coffee to an Ethiopian shepherd named Kaldi. One day, an unusual sight met his eyes – his grazing goats were suspiciously bursting with energy, and their sustained state of arousal made them unwilling to rest at night. Intrigued by this fact, Kaldi concluded that small red berries, which the animals eagerly ate, influenced his flock's strange activity. This awakened the soul of an experimenter in him, and he decided to test the effects of these unknown fruits himself. It turned out that after eating them, he became stimulated and full of energy to act. He feared that the unique properties of the berries might be due to the work of unclean forces, so he decided to share this discovery with the monks residing nearby.
The shepherd's report was taken seriously, and the clerics decided to verify his suspicions. They conducted a taste test, but the berries were not to their liking, and they threw them into the fire without regret. After some time, an unusual, beautiful aroma began to emanate from it, which encouraged the monks to retrieve the roasted beans. Together, they decided to throw them into a cauldron of water and try to create a drink based on them. The infusion prepared in this way turned out to be not only drinkable but also simply delicious. Its consumption came with an additional benefit – the priests could endure prayers much longer because they were not overcome by sleep. They decided that the fruits must therefore be marked by divine, not satanic, power. They also did not fail to advise Kaldi about his troublesome flock – they recommended he change pastures. In this way, a few hyperactive goats contributed to the discovery of unique beans, for which many centuries later automatic coffee machines were created.
The princess and the coffee bean
When citing interesting facts about coffee, one cannot omit another legend concerning its discovery. It is associated with the figure of the Arab monk Ali Ben Omar, who could cure many diseases. One day, he helped the king's own daughter recover, with whom he later unhappily fell in love. The ruler was not eager to give him the princess's hand and ordered the cleric to be driven out of the city.
The man could not come to terms with his fate and prayed fervently to the Creator for help. God sent an Angel who ordered the monk to follow a beautiful bird. The colorful creature led our lover to a coffee tree, from which Ali gathered the fruits and prepared an aromatic drink. He offered it to passing pilgrims, who, delighted with the stimulating properties of the brew, spread the news about it in the city. Eventually, the news of the mysterious concoction reached the king, who decided to give his daughter's hand to Ali in exchange for the recipe for creating this extraordinary mixture. The man agreed to this condition, and everyone lived happily ever after, sipping excellent coffee.
Coffee – discover interesting facts about this extraordinary drink
Despite the undeniable charm of the presented stories, it is believed that coffee was discovered differently. However, this does not mean that its history and properties are not rich in numerous interesting facts. See how many amazing facts about coffee you might not have known until now.
Coffee, like humans, originates from the Black Continent
Currently, Brazil is undoubtedly the largest producer of coffee. It is said that every third bean comes from the largest country in South America. Vietnam, Indonesia, and Colombia, among others, are also considered coffee powerhouses. However, native coffee comes from a completely different part of the world. Its roots should be sought in Ethiopia, where as early as the first millennium BCE, fruits were harvested from naturally growing coffee plants, then cooked with butter and salt. Coffee first gained popularity much later, and it is associated with the Arab world.
A universal name with many meanings
Coffee is such an intriguing phenomenon that interesting facts can even be found in connection with its name. The etymology of this word is most likely linked to the Arabic word kahwa, which can have various meanings, but one of the most frequently cited is "Arabian wine." What does this granular brew have in common with alcoholic grape beverage? Well, the Muslim religion forbids its followers from consuming alcohol, so they had to find an attractive alternative. It turned out that coffee performed excellently in this role, and over time, it began its expansion into other territories. The appearance of coffee in new countries also involved adapting its name – Arabic kahwa transformed into Turkish kahve, and through it, Italian caffè and English coffee, among others, emerged.
Coffee, or something more than a drink
The position of coffee in Arab civilization is evidenced by the consequences of opposing it in that culture. A certain governor of Mecca, who tried to push through a ban on consuming this drink in 1511, learned this the hard way. The sultan did not like the decree and sentenced the unfortunate man to death, ordering the execution to be carried out in a place where coffee enjoyed almost sacred esteem.
Arab merchants quickly realized how valuable a commodity coffee was. Yemen, being the world monopolist in the coffee market at the beginning of the second millennium AD, introduced the death penalty for those who wished to export germinating coffee seeds abroad. Only the trade of "dead" beans intended for consumption was allowed. It is no wonder then that the Yemeni city – Mocha, became the true capital of the coffee world. Interestingly, beans from there were characterized by unique, chocolate notes, from which mocha coffee derives its name, which is a drink composed of espresso, hot milk, and dark or milk chocolate.
These are not the only interesting facts about coffee that we can find by exploring the Arab cultural sphere. An interesting issue can be found in ancient legislation. In the Arab countries that existed then, a wife could demand a divorce from her husband in only one situation – when he was unable to provide her with enough coffee!
The irresistible power of coffee
Nowadays, it's hard to imagine modern Europe without coffee. It is estimated that the average European drinks up to 160 liters of this beverage annually. Finns are the leaders on the Old Continent, consuming almost 13 kg of coffee per capita per year. In comparison, the average Polish coffee drinker consumes 3.4 kg of coffee annually. The current fascination with this drink may create the misleading impression that coffee has always been appreciated by Europeans. However, the truth is quite different.
Over centuries, Europeans from various countries repeatedly resisted coffee. However, it coped with both secular and religious aversion. When the beans arrived in Venice in 1600, some monks appealed to Pope Clement VIII to ban this "Muslim" brew. However, the head of the Church recognized that the incredible qualities of coffee were a divine gift, and it would be a sin to impose restrictions on the faithful regarding its consumption.
Charles II, the king reigning in England in the 17th century, had a slightly different opinion on the matter. He disliked the growing popularity of coffee houses and decided to order their prompt closure. To his surprise, his subjects rebelled, after eleven days the coffee houses resumed their operation, and the respect for the unwise ruler significantly declined.
Attempts were also made in Sweden in the 17th century to stop the phenomenon that was coffee beans. Its drinking was forbidden, arguing its negative impact on, among other things, work efficiency and fertility. Due to high taxes imposed on this product, a coffee black market flourished. The authorities, noticing citizens drinking smuggled coffee, decided to confiscate coffee accessories, such as cups and saucers, as punishment. Over time, it turned out that there were no longer such objections to this drink in Sweden. Proof of this is the popularity of the expression Fika!, which means a coffee and cake break. But it's more than that. The time when sweet snacks and ceramic mugs full of brew are enjoyed – it's a moment of delightful relaxation spent with loved ones.
The extraordinary journey of coffee – from beans in a cauldron to exquisite coffee specialties
Shepherd Kaldi carrying the astonishing berries to the monks probably did not expect how many centuries later the range of their uses and serving methods would expand. As a curiosity, we decided to briefly present a few popular forms in which coffee can be served.
- Espresso is one of the first associations that comes to mind when thinking about classic Italian coffee. This small-volume coffee form, reaching 30 ml, is most often associated with Italy and is characterized by its essence and intensity. It is served in a 50 ml cup accompanied by a glass of room temperature water. Properly selected espresso coffees can also be used to prepare other coffees and coffee drinks.
- Cappuccino, a well-known and beloved milky coffee specialty, named after the Capuchin order. Its creation requires espresso, warm milk, and milk foam. Traditionally, it is served in 150-200 ml cups, with the top of the drink sprinkled with cinnamon.
- Latte is simply coffee with milk. It is most often served in taller glasses in proportions of one part espresso to two parts frothed milk.
- Latte macchiato is espresso with a small addition of frothed milk. It consists of three layers: milk, espresso, and milk foam. Its greatest advantage is its subtle, mild taste. It is prepared by first putting milk into a glass, then placing delicate foam in it, and only at the end pouring in the espresso.
- Flat white is a coffee drink that is gaining increasing recognition among Polish coffee lovers. It is a composition whose roots are usually sought in Australia or New Zealand. It consists of espresso poured over hot and lightly frothed milk. Unlike latte, flat white does not have the characteristic foam of the latter.
As you can see, you can serve coffee in many different ways. And it's worth serving, because its consumption brings many benefits to the coffee drinker. Among the advantages of coffee, we can distinguish, among others:
- stimulation of the body provided by natural caffeine,
- content of vitamins B2, B5, niacin, potassium, manganese, and magnesium,
- content of antioxidants that enable the neutralization of free radicals,
- reduction of histamine secretion, which helps reduce the effects of allergy attacks,
- a good effect on short-term memory,
- a positive effect on the bronchi – coffee consumption is recommended for problems with shortness of breath attacks.
If you want to ensure these properties, as well as the excellent taste and aroma of your prepared coffee, then avoid instant versions available in supermarkets. A much better choice is selected whole bean coffee, offered by LaCava coffee roastery. Our assortment includes excellent beans from all over the world, including unique organic coffee, a composition of beans from Nicaragua and Rwanda.
Summary
Coffee and interesting facts about it is an exceptionally broad topic, so we decided to choose those that should be in the repertoire of anecdotes of every true coffee lover. These inconspicuous beans are the inspiration for artists and inventors – coffee was loved by Goethe and Beethoven, and the first webcam was invented in Cambridge to help scientists and students from different parts of the building check if their brew was ready.
LaCava customers can also draw inspiration from the unique taste and aroma of their favorite beverage. Just familiarize yourself with our roastery's assortment and supplement your coffee collection with new, unique blends, including premium blends, and enrich your equipment with excellent quality gear, e.g., burr coffee grinders or moka pots ideal for lovers of alternative coffee brewing methods. We invite you to shop.
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