Coffee is one of the world’s most consumed beverages. It’s estimated that over 1 billion people take coffee every day. In the United States, approximately 63% of all adults enjoy a cup of coffee every morning.
These staggering numbers clearly show that so many people love the stimulant. Why is that? Well, for starters, coffee delivers a punch of energy that sees students and professionals through hectic days. Secondly, it increases mental alertness and concentration, which can significantly improve performance.
In addition to the basics, here are 6 other interesting things you probably didn’t know about coffee:
Coffee Can Be Very Dangerous
Not to be a “boomer” or anything but let’s just start with the negative item and get it out of the way, shall we?
Bad coffee can get so harmful to the extent of killing you! Certain coffee beans contain a chemical known as mycotoxins caused by fungal growth. The toxic compound has been linked to a number of severe medical conditions including cancer and kidney diseases.
Additionally, over-roasted coffee beans can undergo a chemical process that results in a compound known as acrylamide. The chemical is fairly safe in low quantities, but it can be very harmful in higher dosages, with some studies categorizing it as a carcinogen.
What does all this mean? First, make sure to buy high-quality coffee. This effectively solves more than half the problem. Secondly, be mindful of how long you roast your coffee. Finally, don’t drink too much coffee. Sure, it’s sweet, and all but too much of it does more harm than good.
Coffee Was Discovered By Goats
Legend has it that coffee was initially discovered in Ethiopian plateaus by goats. It is told that goats chewed a few coffee cherries and went wild, triggering the curiosity of the herdsman who came to be known as Kaldi. Some reports claim that Kaldi was the first to chew the cherries, while others say he reported the incident to the Islamic monastery. In any case, this is believed to be the birth of coffee as we know it.
Since then, many countries across the world have emerged to become some of the largest producers of coffee. Several South American countries are at the forefront, with coffee from Colombia and Brazil being a favorite among many people in the world. In fact, Brazil accounts for 40% of the coffee sold in the world.
Coffee Can Make a Delicious Tea
Cherry beans used in making coffee can also make a flavorful tea. This is done using the skin of the cherries.
Other than its sweet taste and glamorous scent, the tea from these beans is also very healthy. It has powerful antioxidants that are critical in protecting your body’s cells and tissues against oxidative stress caused by free radicals.
In addition to making tea, the cherry beans are sometimes mixed with other compounds like honey to make skincare products.
Decaffeinated Coffee Actually Contains Caffeine
It is called decaffeinated coffee, and many brands use marketing strategies to imply that it is 100% free of caffeine, but it isn’t. Technically, decaf coffee is made by removing 97% of caffeine. Therefore, while a majority of the stimulant is removed, the process doesn’t rid the beverage of the caffeine completely.
It’s important to know this, especially if you are very sensitive to caffeine.
Cat Poop Coffee Is a Thing
Yes, cat poop coffee is a real thing and not a myth. And if that doesn’t sound weird enough, Black Ivory Coffee, which comes from elephant poop, is also a thing! These two are the rarest and most expensive types of coffee in the world. In fact, makers of black ivory coffee claim that they primarily sell their product to a select few five-star hotels in the world.
Cat poop coffee, or Kopi luwak coffee as it is popularly called, can retail for as high as $170 per pound!
Why are these types of coffee so expensive? It may have something to do with the production process. Kopi luwak is usually made by feeding civets ripe coffee cherries. The civets then defect the beans since their bodies cannot digest them.
The problem with Kopi luwak coffee is some of the civets are caged and placed under harsh conditions just for the production of the beans.
Coffee Played a Key Role in the Creation of the First Webcam
Scientists at the University of Cambridge developed the first webcam to keep an eye on the coffee pot in the “ Trojan Room.” The idea was to avoid wasting time making coffee trips when the pot was still not full. This simple idea went on to become a great invention. So great that in 1991, the cam was connected to the internet and millions of people streamed from across the world for 10 years straight before it was turned off.
Now you know more about coffee than the energy rush and jitters. Don’t hesitate to share a fact or two the next time you are on a coffee date!
