Everyone knows by now that I adore my coffee. I'm always envisioning more forms to delight in that cup of coffee. Coffee, espresso, java, joe ... Will you say it with me, and it's completely ok for you to drink that mug of coffee.
Coffee is my staple drink, and it's most probably yours too. The exquisite bitterness and coziness of the black fluid encourage anybody to have another cup. So this gets us really curious to find out more captivating aspects about coffee as a commodity itself, but also as a drink. Here are 20 facts to get you laugh, surprise you, or just make you want to order one more cup of espresso.
The first web cam was invented out of love for coffee.
We all have experienced that sheer frustration discovering that the work coffee machine is empty again! Well, the technology gods who invented the webcam had the same issue. The difference between them and me is that these guys founded a program to keep an eye on the coffee machine every 30 seconds. Many Thanks, Dr. Stafford-Fraser and Dr. Jardetzky!
Coffee beans are not beans ... they're pits
The espresso beans we all love are hidden within the red, or purple cherries of the Coffea Arabica shrub. Similar to all other cherries, they contain two seeds which we recognize as coffee beans.
Historically,Alcoholic beverages were first on the breakfast table before coffee.
In the time before coffee , people's choice of drink for any type of moment was liquor. Surprising? With poor technical knowledge at that time, people had no way of purifying water, and milk was sparse. Their best solution was alcohol. Alcohol was a good way of producing a sustainable drink that will not make people sick. It was so common, actually, that beer was even thought as healthier than water!
Americans pay for coffee more than $1000 per year, on average
You 'd think that paying an average of $1100 on coffee yearly would be enough to make America the most caffeinated country. You would be wrong.
The cold Nordic nations consume the most java .
Statistics show that Finland leads the list with a yearly median of 26 lbs of coffee per inhabitant, followed by Sweden. Finland is my favorite considering that it's the only country where coffee breaks are in the legislation!
Cafes were once banned in England
In 1675, cafes were actually not spots for solitary coffee drinkers. On the contrary, it was a social hub for people to participate in debates on business, politics, and other matters. King Charles II of England banned the cafes out of paranoia because he considered that these places created 'conspirators of the crown'.
Decaf coffee is not truly decaffeinated
Were you tricked in thinking that Decaffeinated coffee is caffeine-free? You're not the only one on this, however it's not that bad actually. Decaf coffee has around 97% less caffeine than ordinary coffee but it does have caffeine in it nonetheless.
Coffee is very helpful around 9:30 and 11:30 in the morning.
Neuroscientists say that drinking coffee alters our alertness degree. Between 8:00 and 9:00 in the morning, our performance is at its peak, so drinking caffeinated beverages is unnecessary. Alternatively, you can drink it between 9:30 am and 11:30 am where our performance goes to its lowest.
Java makes us happy.
Numerous research studies show that coffee lowers suicidal intentions and depression. Coffee helps dopamine and other chemicals from the human 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.
George Washington invented instant coffee.
I mislead you here. This Washington wasn't the president of the US. He was an innovator who worked for a decade to discover the instant coffee production recipe.
In the past, only men were permitted in cafes.
As a male-exclusive venue, coffeehouse became the "in" venue for a whole day. Females were not allowed to go anywhere to sip their java but their homes.
Coffee shops are "programs for the wise"
Ottomans called cafes as "kahveh kanes" meaning universities for the wise. Comparable to England and France, Turkish coffee houses became a birthplace for ideas from numerous intellectuals.
Americano coffee was created in The second world war by American soldiers.
Soldiers had very little food supply but were provided quite an amount of coffee beans to allow them to keep sharp in the midst of World War II. As a result, U.S. troops consumed lots of espressos. But, they disliked the sharpness of the espresso, so they added water to it. This is how the Americano was discovered.
Coffee was baptized since it was considered "Satan's beverage."
Pope Clement VIII was saddened due to the obligation to condemn coffee. At the time coffee was considered the "bitter invention of Satan." Wowed by the exquisite taste of coffee, the pontiff asserted that it would be a waste to allow the nonbelievers hoard it. So, he blessed coffee.
Coffee can wedge a marriage into two
Coffee was a big thing in Turkey, even incorporating it in law. Turkish women were given the right to divorce their partners if they couldn't supply the required amount of coffee.
Caffeine content reduces with dark roasts
Caffeine gets destroyed when the coffee bean is being roasted. So, the darker the roast, the less caffeine content. Perfect for all of us health-conscious java fanatics. However, when you steep a mug, you will extract more caffeine from a dark roast than from a light roast. Puzzled?
For more facts you should know about coffee coffee