Thomas Jefferson called it “the favorite drink of the civilized world.” Maybe you’re sipping a cup of coffee as you read this, or even consider yourself an addict. Inevitably, there’s a world of discovered and undiscovered science and politics that goes into our daily mugs...but what about the cool, fun stuff? The stuff that comes in handy on trivia nights? The stuff that makes your friends and family wonder why it takes up precious real estate in your brain? Look no further and sip on, my friends!
A list of 20 facts about your favorite civilized beverage.
Atmospheric pressure affects the bubbles in your coffee cup. If there are more bubbles in the center of the cup, expect rainy or stormy weather.
Coffee stays warm about 20% longer once cream is added.
Next to oil/petroleum, coffee is the most valuable exported and traded commodity in the world.
It was once required of Turkish grooms to vow during the wedding to always provide their wives with coffee. If the vow was broken, it was considered grounds for divorce.
The word espresso comes from Italian and means “to be forced out”. Espresso is made by forcing very hot water under high pressure through compacted and finely ground coffee.
Espresso has one-third the caffeine of a traditional brewed cup of coffee, and dark roast has less caffeine than light roast.
Coffee farmers profit about 4 cents for every pound of hand-picked coffee.
Coffee drinkers are 25% less likely to develop gallstones.
In 1674, a group of London women formed a group called the Women's Petition Against Coffee because they didn't like the amount of time their husbands spent in coffee houses rather than being home.
Beethoven made a cup of coffee daily and counted out exactly 60 beans every single time. He wouldn’t drink it otherwise.
In 2001, Brazil produced a postal stamp that smelled like coffee and the scent ended up lasting 5 years.
Coffee is rich in nitrogen, making it an excellent fertilizer for gardens and stops snails, slugs, and worms from eating the plants.
Water is the only beverage more popular than coffee.
The USA, France, and Germany are responsible for 65% of the world’s coffee consumption. The Netherlands are the largest per capita consumers overall.
Coffee beans are not really beans at all, but the seeds of the cherry fruit from a coffee shrub. Coffee shrubs can live 60 to 70 years, and don’t begin producing fruit for five years once planted.
It takes approximately 100 beans to brew one cup of coffee.
Brazil produces 40% of the world's coffee supply.
Caffeine from coffee is most effective when consumed between the hours of 9:30 to 11:30 am.
If coffee had no smell, only a bitter, sour taste would be left due to the organic acids.
Drum roll.....
20. Due to its high levels of antioxidants and nutrients such as riboflavin, magnesium, and potassium, coffee provides health benefits including a metabolism boost and a lowered risk of developing type-2 diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, and certain types of cancer.
Until next time, drink on!
Written by: Sam Raph
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