How much do you really know about your morning (afternoon and evening too!) Joe? For most of us, understanding how to make and drink it is enough. That said, coffee is quite a character. It’s a show-stopper, in fact, with a colorful history and promising future, not to mention a current-day popularity that’s fueled by a seemingly endless stream of new ways to brew and prepare it. For the coffee curious among us, we decided to share some of the beverage’s more unusual facts, so grab a refill and read on.
1. It was discovered by goats. We promised the unusual! Coffee was first discovered in 15th century forests on the Ethiopian plateau. Legend has it that goat herder, Kaldi, often brought his animals to the area to feed. The goats were especially fond of the red berries they found on trees, but got so energetic after eating them that they couldn’t sleep at night. Long story short, Kaldi mentioned this strange activity to a local monk who decided to try it for himself as part of drink. Let’s just say that he no longer had a problem staying awake for evening prayer. The rest, as they say, is history.
2. Coffee is good for you. It’s rare that something we love to eat or drink turns out to be good for us, so it’s cause for celebration when it happens. It turns out that coffee is chock full of antioxidants. Studies have also linked it to lowering the chances of falling victim to number of serious diseases like Type 2 Diabetes, Alzheimer’s, Dementia, and Parkinson’s. Not bad for a day’s work, but that’s not all. Coffee drinkers have a much lower risk of developing cirrhosis of the liver and having a stroke. Time for another refill!
3. Coffee was a wine. The word “coffee” originally came from the Arabic “qahhwat al-bun” or “wine of the bean.” When introduced in 17th century Europe, is was known as “Arabian Wine” that was made from fermented coffee beans. It was commonly used as a substitute in spiritual ceremonies where wine was forbidden.
4. Specialty coffee flavors are determined by a wheel. A coffee taster’s flavor wheel, to be exact. It was first developed in 1995, and is a well-known resource in the coffee industry. It was updated for the very first time earlier this year by its original creators — the Specialty Coffee Association of America and World Coffee Research. Arranged in the shape of a wheel, the tool sets the standard for coffee vocabulary related to its many sensory characteristics. It’s quite beautiful to look at and is often referred to as a kaleidoscope of coffee flavor. Click here to learn more about how to use it.
5. Most popular in the U.S. While coffee is a staple in many countries, it’s most popular in the U.S., where 400 million cups are consumed daily. That’s right…400 million, which adds up to 146 billion cups a year. In fact, coffee represents 75 percent of the caffeine consumed in the U.S. Here are a few facts within this fun fact:
• 65% of coffee is consumed in the morning
• 58% of people brew their coffee the same way each day
• 28% of coffee lovers drink it black
• 52% of coffee drinkers would rather skip their morning shower than give up their Joe
• Last but not least…drum roll please: 49% of coffee drinkers would rather give up their cell phone for a month than go without coffee. By today’s standards, that says a lot.
Making coffee more convenient
Imagine that with the click of a mouse, you could order your favorite coffee, or maybe try something new, and have it delivered directly to your front door. This is one dream that you can count on coming true. We’ve taken our coffee shop virtual. With 20 flavors and varieties to choose from, you’ll enjoy every sip of your contribution to America’s 400 million cups a day. Check out our coffee line up and place an order today at GrandKaffe.com.