Surprising Facts About Coffee
Coffee is an ancient beverage. First brewed around the 9th century AD, the drink originated in the geographical area of modern-day Ethiopia and Yemen, and since, it had effectively spread throughout the world, becoming one of the most popular beverages in the world. Given that coffee has such a rich and long-standing history, it's hardly surprising that throughout all these years, we've collected an entire trove of coffee knowledge and fascinating facts about coffee.
Did
you know, for example, that coffee was eaten before it was brewed, or
that coffee beans are not really beans at all? Below you'll find 11 such
fascinating coffee facts, many of which even the most knowledgeable
coffee aficionados aren't aware of...
1. There's no difference in caffeine content between dark and light coffee roasts
There
is a popular myth that dark roasted coffee is richer in caffeine
than light roasted varieties. In fact, many people stick to dark roasts
specifically because they are stronger, but coffee experts point out
that this is a myth and that roasting will not affect the caffeine
content of coffee in any way that you will notice. As a matter of fact,
the difference in caffeine may be more prominent between different kinds
of coffee than it is between roasts, so if you're after more caffeine,
look into coffee varieties cultivated specifically to maximize caffeine
content.
2. The smell of coffee is often enough to wake you up in the morning
We
associate certain smells with feelings and memories, both good and
bad. So it's hardly surprising that that the smell of coffee triggers
feelings of wakefulness in humans, a fascinating finding confirmed by science.
Research has shown that the smell of coffee sends signals of coffee
anticipation in the brain that provide stimulation, so make sure to at
least smell some coffee the next time you're in a hurry in the morning
and don't have the time to enjoy a cup of joe.
3. Coffee beans are not actually beans, they're cherry seeds!
Who
knows why we're calling them coffee beans? Maybe because they resemble
beans, or maybe it's just a bad translation from the original source
from centuries ago. Whatever the case may be, let's clarify - coffee
beans are NOT beans - they're seeds of cherry-like fruit called either
coffee cherries or coffee berries (depending on the source). These
cherries are picked from the coffee tree, then dried or washed to get
rid of the pulp and reveal the dry seeds, which are then roasted and
ground up to make coffee.
4. Cappuccinos are named after Capuchin fryers
The
cappuccino is an Italian drink, prepared by mixing espresso with
frothed milk that yields a golden yellow and extremely delicious coffee
drink. The golden color of the drink reminded Italian baristas of the
robes of Capuchin friars, who are large Franciscan orders of monks
that were founded in 16th-century Italy. It was this
color resemblance that gave the cappuccino its name.
5. The majority of the world's coffee comes from Brazil
The
best coffee grows on extremely high altitudes in warm and humid
climates with no dramatic changes in temperatures throughout the day.
So, it's little surprise that coffee is grown in Brazil, where mountain
ranges reach an impressive 2,791 meters above sea level. In fact,
currently, about 40% of the world's coffee comes from Brazil.
6. Those who drink coffee live longer
Great news for coffee lovers worldwide - according to research from Harvard,
it turns out that we live longer than those who don't drink coffee!
More specifically, moderate consumption (3-4 cups a day) was associated
with a longer life span, as well as a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes,
cardiovascular disease, and Parkinson's. Keep in mind, however, that the
study was talking about sugar and sweetener-free coffee.
7. Before it was consumed as a drink, coffee was eaten
Yes,
you heard that one right. Once upon a time, coffee cherries were
picked, mixed with animal fat, and consumed as an energizing food by
east African tribes who first discovered coffee. Eventually, they
learned that caffeine can be extracted from coffee beans, and even
today, Africa has one of the most interesting, diverse, and ancient
coffee cultures in the world.
8. Decaf coffee is never completely caffeine-free
Decaf
coffee is never completely free of caffeine. During the decaffeination
process, the coffee beans are usually stripped of 94-98% of their
caffeine content. Research points out that even decaf has some caffeine -
9.4ml caffeine in 16 oz of decaf coffee, compared to 188 ml of caffeine
in the same quantity of average coffee.
9. Adding milk to coffee will keep it warmer for longer
Do
you prefer your coffee warm? If so, then you might enjoy learning about
this trick - simply add a splash of milk or cream to your coffee, and
it will cool off 20% slower than a cup of black coffee. Sure, it will
increase the calorie content of the cup (1 cup of black coffee only has 1
calorie), but it will also make it a lot creamier, and it seems, also
warmer.
10. Before coffee became popular, the most common breakfast drink was beer
Imagine
that, replacing a cup of morning coffee with a cup of beer! But it's
true, until the 18th century when coffee became increasingly popular,
most people drank ale or beer for breakfast, simply because it was the
most affordable drink for the majority of the population. Good thing
that they didn't have cars back in the day!
11. Coffee grounds can be used as biodegradable fuel
According
to an article in Biodiesel magazine, "The cup of java that fuels many
people in the morning could soon fuel trucks too, in the form of coffee
biodiesel". It turns out that researchers have already developed a way
to reuse coffee grounds that would be otherwise thrown away into the
trash to produce biofuel. Well, we can't wait to be able to use old
coffee grounds instead of paying for gas, that's for sure.