Did you know that the entire world would come to a standstill without coffee?
Today, coffee is the essential beverage globally. Billions of people consume it in many different ways with many different recipes.
In fact there are more than 16 ways of making coffee throughout the world. That is why you have the Italians proud of their espresso while others dilute it further to make Americano!
Here are eight things you should know about your daily coffee.
1. The single-serve coffee market is huge
Coffee breaks in the United States got easier with the arrival of single-serve coffee making machines over a decade ago. Keurig is the leading brewing system in the United States accounting for over 29% of the market, and customers frequently have to compare Keurig models to find the machine that’s bets for them.
Cost-wise, Keurig machines do make a single cup a little more expensive. Compared to a half-pound bag of traditionally roasted and ground coffee, an equivalent number of K-cups goes for about double.
Ultimately people love single-serve coffee makers because of convenience, offering them an easier and less expensive alternative to a local coffee shop.
2. Coffee was discovered by accident
Coffee was discovered accidentally by an Ethiopian herder who noted that his goat went crazy after consuming coffee beans in the forested plateau. The unexpected discovery paved the way for the development of the coffee empire.
The herder reported the observation to the abbot who made a drink using the berries. To his astonishment, the drink kept him alert for very long hours during their evening prayers. The abbot then shared the discovery with his colleagues in the monastery.
It wasn’t long before the energizing ability of the berries spread from the monastery to other parts of the world. Once it reached the Arabian Peninsula, coffee became a worldwide beverage.
3. Coffee improves physical activity and fat burning
Caffeine is an ingredient in most fat burning supplements because it stimulates the central nervous system, increasing the rate of metabolism, which in turn enhances the oxidation of fatty acids.
In athletics, caffeine improves performance by mobilizing fatty acids stored in various fat tissues in the body. Studies have shown that caffeine can increase performance of athletes by approximately 12%.
4. Coffee reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s
Most researchers believe that coffee makes one smarter in the short term, but they also believe that it protects your brain at old age.
Alzheimer’s disease is the world’s common neurodegenerative condition and is also the leading cause of dementia. Studies indicate that coffee drinkers reduce their chances of developing the condition at old age by about 60%.
5. There are two commercially cultivated coffee varieties
Everyone knows that there are over 60 varieties of coffee in the world. However, only two of them are grown and distributed across the globe. The Arabica and the Robusta varieties are the preferred choice for their taste, caffeine content, and commercial viability (meaning how easily they grow in different climates).
Arabica beans are known to produce coffee with better taste, compared to Robusta. Most coffee farmers grow this variety. On the other hand, Robusta is popular because they grow quickly and are sold cheap. They have high amounts of caffeine, which gives Robusta coffee a more bitter taste.
6. The coffee industry supports 25 million farmers
The majority of coffee farmers come from developing and underdeveloped countries. Twenty-five million of them depend on income from the sale of coffee. Buying fairly traded organic coffee goes a long way in supporting these farmers.
To continue promoting better working conditions and improved livelihoods, buyers are encouraged to support organically produced, Fair Trade coffee. So, when you walk to the nearest coffee shop and purchase your favorite beverage, be proud of supporting farmers.
7. High altitude grown coffee beans taste better but we don’t really know why
Most coffee connoisseurs believe that high altitude coffee tastes better and more complex.
Though researchers aren’t totally in agreement why this occurs, most believe it’s because the higher altitudes have cooler temperatures, which allow coffee beans to grow without being burned by the harsh, equatorial heat.
8. Animals love coffee, too!
If you thought we are the only species that loves coffee, then you’ve got it all wrong!
Animals like bees love coffee, too. They are more likely to land on coffee flowers than those of other trees. The flowers have a small amount of caffeine in the nectar that makes bees alert and more active. Just like in humans, the caffeine boosts their energy, improves concentration and enhances performance.
Since its discovery in the 11th century by that Ethiopian monk, coffee has become one of the most globally traded commodities. Millions drink it every morning, at work during breaks, in the evening after work, and, for others, it is served before and after meals.
How coffee is made and consumed depends on which part of the world you come from, however, one thing is nearly universal: people love coffee.