Everything About Coffee | 14 Facts You Didn’t Know Before!

Coffee is a globally beloved beverage that plays an essential role in the daily lives of countless people. For many, life without coffee seems unimaginable! Most of us have heard about the benefits and drawbacks of coffee, and we know that a single cup can provide an incredible energy boost. However, this popular drink has many secrets and wonders you might not know. Stay with the Swivel blog as we dive into fascinating facts about different types of coffee.

What is Coffee?

We all know roasted coffee beans, but the actual coffee plant might be unfamiliar to many. Coffee trees are pruned short to conserve energy and facilitate harvesting, but they can grow over 9 meters tall. These trees are adorned with waxy, green leaves growing in pairs, and coffee cherries grow along their branches. Interestingly, coffee trees often display flowers, unripe fruits, and ripe cherries simultaneously, as they grow in a continuous cycle.

It takes about a year for cherries to mature after the first bloom, and trees need around five years of growth to produce a full crop. While coffee plants can live up to 100 years, their prime production period is usually between the ages of 7 and 20. Proper care can maintain or even increase their yield over time, depending on the variety.

1. No One Knows the Exact History of Coffee

There are several accounts of who first discovered coffee. One story traces its origin to a 9th-century Ethiopian goat herder who noticed his goats becoming highly energetic after eating red cherries from a coffee plant. Intrigued, he tried them himself and experienced a surge of energy.

Another tale involves a Moroccan Sufi mystic named Ghothul Akbar Nooruddin, who observed unusually active birds during his travels in Ethiopia. Upon discovering that these birds ate from a specific plant, he decided to try it and immediately felt invigorated.

2. Coffee is a Fruit

When you think of coffee, you probably imagine ground beans or roasted seeds. However, coffee resembles small berries, and the seeds inside are what we roast and grind.

3. The Best Coffee Beans Come from High Altitudes

Coffee grown at higher elevations benefits from cooler temperatures, resulting in better flavor. Interestingly, the taste of coffee varies depending on the altitude. For instance:

• Ethiopian coffee, grown at 1,500 meters above sea level, has a tangy flavor.

• Brazilian coffee, cultivated at 1,200 meters, develops nutty and chocolatey notes.

• Coffee grown at 900 meters has a less distinct taste and lower energy levels.

4. Arabica and Robusta are the Two Main Coffee Types

Robusta coffee offers more energy due to its higher caffeine content. On the other hand, Arabica contains 50% more fat and higher sugar levels, resulting in greater acidity and more complex flavors. Cheaper coffees are often made with Robusta, while most specialty coffees are Arabica. Each type has subvarieties, with Bourbon and Typica being the most common Arabica types.

5. Coffee Production Takes Time

Coffee producers must wait about two and a half years for coffee shrubs to grow. These plants require meticulous care and spend the first six months in shaded environments. Harvesting, the final and most labor-intensive stage, is often done by hand since coffee trees grow on steep slopes.

6. Coffee Plants Can Make Tea

Yes, you read that right! Dried coffee cherries are steeped to make cascara tea. This beverage has low caffeine content and tastes more like a brewed fruit than traditional tea.

7. Coffee Beans Are Brown Because of Roasting

Raw coffee looks completely different from roasted coffee. Freshly picked coffee beans are green. During the roasting process, starches break down into sugars, caramelize, and turn brown. This is similar to what happens when you toast bread. Additionally, roasting produces an aromatic oil called caffeol, which gives coffee its distinct aroma. Interestingly, some people even use coffee for tanning in the summer, taking advantage of its natural color for their skin.

8. Coffee Plays a Significant Role in Religious Ceremonies

From its first use in Yemen, coffee has been deeply tied to religious practices. In the Middle Ages, Sufi mystics consumed coffee during rituals to help them stay awake for extended periods of worship. Even today, coffee remains a symbol of energy and focus, often consumed by students during all-night study sessions.

9. Drinking Coffee Once Carried the Death Penalty

Unlike most of the world, Sultan Murad IV of the Ottoman Empire despised coffeehouses, believing they were breeding grounds for conspiracies against him. In 1633, he declared that drinking coffee in Istanbul was punishable by death. He wasn’t the only ruler to take this stance—between the 16th and 18th centuries, several European and Middle Eastern leaders attempted to ban coffee.

10. Coffee is the Third Most Consumed Beverage in the World

Over two billion cups of coffee are consumed daily, making it the third most popular beverage globally, after water and tea. Even in countries like China, where traditional drinks are deeply ingrained, coffee is rapidly gaining popularity. For example, a new Starbucks opens in China every 15 hours!

Beyond its health benefits and potential drawbacks, coffee has other uses. Its first recorded use outside Africa was in Yemen, where it became an integral part of Sufi rituals. The act of roasting beans and drinking coffee became inseparable from worship, helping practitioners stay alert during long hours of prayer. Today, many people rely on coffee for the same purpose—staying awake for work or studying.

11. Turkish Coffee Isn’t Exclusive to Turkey

Turkish coffee, a rich and concentrated drink made from finely ground, unfiltered coffee, was traditionally consumed in Istanbul and other parts of Turkey. However, it has gained popularity worldwide, including in countries like Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, and Jordan. Turkish coffee is typically served with a glass of cold water to cleanse the palate. Interestingly, a similar brewing method is used in Greece, where it is known as Greek coffee.

12. Climate Change Threatens the Coffee Industry

While global demand for coffee continues to grow, climate change poses a serious risk to this industry. Rising temperatures and erratic weather conditions are disastrous for coffee plants, which are highly sensitive to heat and rainfall. For example, Brazil, the world’s largest coffee producer, could lose 25% of its suitable farmland for coffee cultivation by 2050, potentially leaving thousands of farmers jobless.

13. Coffee Consumption Reduces the Risk of Heart Failure

In addition to its short-term energy boost, coffee also offers long-term health benefits. Studies have shown that regular coffee consumption is linked to a reduced risk of heart failure. However, moderation is key—drinking more than four cups a day can lead to anxiety, heart palpitations, and sleep disturbances. To combine coffee’s benefits with those of chocolate, consider snacks like chocolate-coated coffee beans, which offer the best of both worlds for heart health.

14. Coffee Can Enhance Your Workout

Morning coffee is a popular energy booster, but it can also improve your athletic performance. Numerous studies suggest that caffeine helps you run faster and fatigue less quickly. In one study, athletes who drank regular coffee ran 4.2 seconds faster over 1,500 meters than those who consumed decaffeinated coffee.

Which Country Produces the Best Coffee?

Brazil is the largest coffee producer globally, with vast plantations requiring hundreds of workers to cultivate and harvest large quantities of coffee. Both Arabica and Robusta beans are grown there, with soil quality, climate, and elevation determining which variety thrives best. Brazilian coffee is known for its clarity, sweetness, medium body, and low acidity, making it a favorite choice for coffee enthusiasts worldwide.

Coffee is more than just a drink; it’s a cultural phenomenon with a rich history and numerous health benefits. This article reveals little-known facts about its origins, types, and production while highlighting the challenges it faces in today’s world.