Coffee is a beverage that seems almost indispensable for every Vietnamese person. If you are someone who loves the rich and aromatic flavor of coffee, let’s join Hello 5 Coffee Global to explore 10 fascinating facts about coffee in the article below.
Coffee started with “hyperactive” goats
Thousands of years ago, Kaldi – an Ethiopian goat herder – discovered the first coffee plant in the world when he noticed his goats eating the berries of a strange plant and suddenly becoming lively, jumping around, excited, and unable to sleep. Curious, Kaldi tried the berries himself, which made his body feel unusually energetic and refreshed. Seeing this, a monk asked Kaldi about the reason. After learning the truth, the monk took the seeds of this strange plant and planted them in the monastery. From there, coffee was born and has existed until today.
Coffee was banned three times
One fascinating fact you might not know is that coffee was banned three times in history. The first was in 1511, when the governor of Mecca (Arabia) issued a decree prohibiting coffee, claiming that coffee houses were unhealthy places of entertainment. The second was in 1675, when king Charles II also banned coffee because he believed coffeehouses were “breeding grounds for rebellion.” However, facing fierce opposition from the public, the king was forced to revoke the ban after only 11 days. The third ban came from Frederick the Great, who prohibited coffee consumption in Germany in 1677.
Coffee around the world is grown in the “bean belt”
The unique red soil, combined with hot and humid climates and abundant rainfall, makes coffee best suited for countries near the equator. You might be surprised to learn that all the coffee in the world is grown along the same latitude, in a special region known as the “bean belt.”
Black coffee has less caffeine than light coffee
A study has shown that lightly roasted coffee beans, which appear lighter in color, actually contain more caffeine than dark roasted beans. The reason is that the heat from roasting dark coffee beans significantly reduces the caffeine content.
Around 1.4 trillion cups of coffee are consumed each year
Coffee is a familiar beverage and an essential part of life for coffee lovers. According to the latest research, approximately 1.4 trillion cups of coffee are consumed by people around the world every year.
Drinking coffee helps prevent diabetes
According to scientific studies published in 2005, people who drink coffee daily in moderation are less likely to develop diabetes compared to those who do not. Moreover, coffee contains antioxidants, which, when consumed properly, can improve health day by day.
Coffee is one of the most traded commodities
Coffee is the second most traded commodity in the world, ranking only after “black gold” – petroleum.
Using coffee grounds can help plants recover
If you mix clean water, coffee grounds, and a little sugar, then water plants that are about to wither, you’ll notice that after a few days, the plants will gradually recover and turn green again. Coffee grounds are known to be rich in nutrients and can promote metabolic processes, thereby helping plants grow healthier if used correctly. Besides watering plants, coffee grounds can also be used as fertilizer, insect repellent, or even as food for earthworms.
Coffee grounds as fuel for cars
Research is currently being conducted on processing coffee grounds into biodiesel fuel. In the future, coffee grounds may actually become a clean alternative energy source to replace gasoline and diesel.
Coffee trees can live up to 200 years
It may sound unbelievable, but if coffee trees are cultivated and grown as shrubs, they can live for up to 200 years.
In conclusion, the above are 10 interesting facts about coffee that you may not have known before. We hope this article has given you more useful knowledge about the world’s favorite beverage. Wishing you enjoyable coffee moments full of energy and inspiration every day.
