This blog post is dedicated to Coffee lovers all over the world. October 1, depending on which country you’re in, is celebrated as International Coffee Day, and what better way to commemorate the day than by learning a little more about coffee’s history and some interesting facts you probably didn’t know?
Some like it hot, some like it cold, some like it black, and others enjoy it as an ingredient in their food. No matter how you like your coffee, it’s great to celebrate this dynamic berry and the joy and income it brings to so many of us around the world.
Now, let’s learn more about International Coffee Day and coffee in general.
Why Do We Celebrate International Coffee Day?
According to the International Coffee Organization, International Coffee Day is celebrated in recognition of the coffee sector’s diversity, the quality they consistently produce, and the passion they have for coffee as a beverage and an ingredient. Of course, there’s no way a day for coffee can be celebrated without coffee lovers. This is a day for everyone to demonstrate their love for coffee in as many creative ways as they wish.
The History of Coffee
It is believed that coffee was discovered in Ethiopia between 700 and 800 AD. History states that a herd of goats began acting in a strange way that caught the attention of their owner (Kaldi). He decided to observe the goats and discovered that they were feeding on a red bean. It was then and there that they decided that this was what was causing their strange behavior.
Not too long after, Kaldi decided to share his discovery with a Monk who wanted something to stay awake all night. Another version of the story states that the Monk refused Kaldi’s suggestion and threw the beans into a fire, and the aroma it gave off was quite pleasant.
It was from this occurrence that the turning point came for coffee, which grew in popularity and has spread worldwide since then.
Fun Facts About Coffee You Probably Didn’t Know
The following facts about coffee are some that you might know, and there are others that you might not know. Let’s see which one’s you’re familiar with:
#1 – There are Two Main Types of Coffee
Today, there are over 100 different species of coffee that exist. There are, however, two types of coffee that are widely produced. They are:
Coffee Arabica – The taste of Arabica coffee is sweet and has some tones of sugar, fruit, and berries. It has a high level of acidity and can be compared to the taste of wine. This is a higher quality of coffee compared to Robusta.
Coffee Robusta – Also known as Canephor, this type of coffee is usually used to make instant coffee and is of lower quality. The taste is much stronger and harsher when compared to Arabica and grows at a faster rate.
#2 – Finland Consumes the Most Coffee Worldwide
The biggest coffee lovers are said to be found in Finland. The average Finn can consume as much as 27 pounds of coffee per year. This is almost two times more than the average American.
#3 – The World’s Most Expensive Coffee Sells for up to $600/lb
This type of coffee is known in layman’s terms as cat poop coffee. How this coffee is made is very unusual. The Asian Palm Civet (a cat) consumes coffee cherries, digests them, and then poops them out. After this process, the beans are cleaned and processed. Yes, you just read right. This coffee is called Kopi Luwak and can sell for $35 a cup and $600 per pound.
#4 – The Largest Producer of Coffee is Brazil
The International Coffee Organization, ICO, states that Brazil produces and supplies approximately ⅓ of the world’s coffee. The other country that comes close to their production stats is Vietnam which produces two times less than Brazil. We can safely say that Brazil is the coffee giant of the world.
#5 – Decaffeinated Coffee Isn’t Caffeine-Free
A regular 8oz cup of coffee can have as little as 95 mg of caffeine and as much as 200 mg. Decaf coffee, on the other hand, can contain anywhere from 2 m to 12 mg of caffeine.
That’s a Wrap!
We hope these fun facts about coffee and why we celebrate international coffee day have sparked your interest or reiterated your love for coffee.
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