Do you know which country grows the most coffee in the world or that it is of two main types? If not, don’t worry, we have you covered.
Many people kickstart their day with a hot cup of strong coffee to feel active throughout the day. However, coffee isn’t a new phenomenon and has been around for over a thousand years. But do you know which country grows the most coffee in the world or that it is of two main types?
Here are a few interesting details about coffee, according to Coffee Culture.
1. Coffee was discovered in 800 AD
Legend has it that 9th-century goat herders noticed the effect caffeine had on their goats, who appeared to “dance” after eating the fruit of the coffea plant. A local monk then made a drink with the produce and found that it kept him awake at night, which was the original cup of coffee!
2. Beans? No, they are actually seeds!
They’re the pits of the cherry-like berries found on the flowering shrubs, but we call them “beans” because of their resemblance to legumes. And you can also eat coffee cherries as a food. Early on, people mixed coffee berries with fat to create an energy-rich snack ball, according to PBS. They would also ferment the pulp to make a wine-like drink.
3. There are two main types: Arabica & Robusta
Growers predominantly plant the Arabica species. Although less popular, Robusta tastes slightly more bitter and contains more caffeine.
4. Brazil grows the most coffee in the world
Today, Brazil produces about third of the world’s supply of coffee, according to the International Coffee Organization; about twice as much as the second place holder, Vietnam. Espresso means “pressed out” in Italian. This refers to the way espresso is made — forcing boiling water through pressed coffee grounds. And although espresso has more caffeine per volume than coffee, it would take three shots to equal the amount in a regular cup of joe.
5. Multiple people have tried to ban coffee
Back in 1511, leaders in Mecca believed it stimulated radical thinking and outlawed the drink. Some 16th-century Italian clergymen also tried to ban coffee because they believed it to be “satanic”. However, Pope Clement VII loved coffee so much that he lifted the ban and had it baptised in 1600.
