Ahh-- java! There is almost nothing better than coffee. Particularly, but absolutely not only, in the morning hours. I am a person who loves coffee.
Coffee is my essential beverage, and it's most probably yours too. The splendid bitterness and comfort of the black liquid tempt anybody to drink just another cup. So this gets us really curious to know more interesting aspects about coffee as a commodity , but also as a beverage. Here are 20 facts to get you laugh, surprise you, or just make you wish to grab another cup of java.
The first web cam was created out of love for coffee.
Most of us have gone through that frustration finding out that the coffee machine is empty! Well, the technology gods who pioneered the webcam had the same problem. The difference between these guys and us is that they founded a solution to monitor the coffee machine every 30 seconds. Thanks, Dr. Stafford-Fraser and Dr. Jardetzky!
Coffee beans are in fact pits
The coffee beans all of us love are hidden inside the red, or purple cherriesand sometimes yellow, of the coffee shrub. Similar to all other cherries, they contain two seeds which we recognize as coffee beans.
Alcohol was first on the breakfast table before coffee.
In the time before coffee , people's choice of drink for any moment was the alcoholic drink. Shocking? With inferior equipment back then, humanity had no way of filtering drinking water, and milk was sparse. Their best option was alcohol. Alcohol was a nice way of producing a sustainable beverage that does not make anyone sick. It was so prevalent, in fact, that beer was even dubbed better than drinking water!
The US spends the most for coffee.
If Sweden consumes the most coffee, the US spends most money with forecast profit of US$ 80,916 million in 2019. An average coffee consumer pays an annual US$ 245.90 for their espresso. And, who can criticize them? Coffee is simply that addicting.
The cool Nordic regions consume more java .
Data shows that Finland tops the list with an annual median of 12 kg of beans per inhabitant, trailed by Sweden. Finland is my personal must visit because it's the only nation where coffee breaks are in the legislation!
Coffee bars were once banned in England
In 1675, coffee shops were not locations for solo coffee drinkers. Contrary, it was a social hub for people to participate in conversations on business and politics. King Charles II of England banned these cafes out of paranoia because he thought that these cafes created 'conspirators of the crown'.
Decaffeinated coffee is not totally decaffeinated
Did you think that decaf coffee is caffeine-free? You're not alone on this one, but it's not that bad in reality. Decaf has approximately 97% less caffeine than non-decaf beans but it does have the stimulant nonetheless.
Coffee is most beneficial between 9:30 and 11:30 in the morning.
From the words of Steven Miller, a neuroscientist, coffee changes our alertness degree. At 8 am to 9 am, our alertness is at its peak, so drinking caffeine would be unnecessary. Alternatively, you can consume it between 9:30 am and 11:30 am when our performance reaches its minimum.
Coffee makes people happy.
Several studies show that coffee decreases suicidal intentions and anxiety. Coffee increases dopamine and other happy drugs in our brain.
Black coffee fights cavities.
A 2009 research shows that black coffee has an antibacterial property that kills cavities on your teeth. However, when mixed with our favorite milk and sugar, the anti-cavities effect is significantly reduced or non-existent.
Beethoven was his barista's nightmare
Beethoven enjoyed a cup of coffee, and was extremely particular about its preparation; he insisted that each cup he consumed be made with exactly 60 beans.
Coffee decreases the likelihood of Alzheimer's.
Researchers have proven yet again that coffee is not just delicious, it's beneficial (in right doses). Furthermore, a much more recent study shows that darker roasts have more efficacy than lighter ones. Maybe it's time to get my espresso then.
Coffee beans were initially chewed
Drinking may be our favored method of coffee consumption, but coffee has not always been a fluid treat. As reported by a lot of historians, the first African groups to consume coffee did this by milling the coffee berries, adding in animal fat, and rolling these caffeinated treats into tiny edible energy balls.
Cafes are "schools for the wise"
Ottomans called cafes as "kahveh kanes" meaning universities for the wise. Similar to England and France, Turkish coffee houses transformed into a birthplace for ideas from intellectuals.
Americano coffee was born in World War II by United States troops.
Soldiers had very little food supply but were provided quite an amount of coffee to help them remain alert in the midst of the war. Consequently, United States soldiers drank lots of espressos. However, they disliked the sharpness of the espresso, so they added water to it. Then Americano coffee was invented.
Coffee was baptized because it was considered "Devil's brew."
Pope Clement VIII was saddened by the obligation to condemn coffee. At the time coffee was considered the "bitter invention of Satan." Inspired by the refined flavor of coffee, the pope claimed that it would be a waste to let the nonbelievers hoard it. So, he blessed coffee.
Caffeine content reduces with dark roasts
Caffeine gets burned out when the coffee bean is being heated at high temperatures. So, the darker the roast level, the lower caffeine. Ideal for all of us health-conscious espresso fans. On the other hand, when you steep a cup, you can extract more caffeine from a dark roasted bean than from a light roast. Baffled?