20 Fun Facts About Coffee

1. Coffee Was Originally a Chewed Energy Snack

Coffee was originally eaten by African tribes centuries ago. Historians say coffee berries were ground and mixed with animal fat and then rolled into edible energy snacks balls. 

2. Legend Has it... 

that an Ethiopian goat herder discovered coffee in the 9th century. He noticed his goats appeared to dance energetically after his herd nibbled on a small, red fruit of a bush. With curiosity, he tried the berries himself and was intrigued. He presented this to a local monk who made a drink with the berries and was able to stay up all night. That's the legend of how the first cup of coffee was born. There are other legends of the history of coffee; many historians believe all of these origin stories are made up. 

3. The World’s First Webcam Watched a Coffee Pot 

In 1991, researchers at Cambridge University got tired of having to leave their desks to get a cup of coffee, only to find an empty pot. They invented the webcam so they could see the pot without walking to the kitchen. Ultimately that pot, a Krups ProAroma that retailed for $50, was auctioned on ebay for almost $5,000. 

4. The World’s Most Expensive Cup of Coffee Comes from Cat Poop 

Kopi Luwak is one of the most coveted coffees in the world. In Indonesia, the Asian Palm Civet (a cat-like creature) consumes ripe coffee cherries and and only partially digests them. These partially fermented beans are passed by the Civet, farmers collect and wash them, and sell the beans for up to $600 per pound. 

5. Coffee Beans are the Seed of a Fruit 

Coffee beans are actually the seed of the coffee cherry, a fruit. It's the seed we roast, grind, and brew to make coffee. 

6. Americans Spend roughly $2000 on Coffee Every Year 

According to The Perfect Brew, women spend about $2327 per year on coffee, and men spend around $1,934. You’d think that would make America the world’s biggest coffee drinkers, but... 

7. Finland is the Coffee-Consuming Capital of the World 

The International Coffee Organization states that Finns drink the most coffee of any country in the world, averaging 4 cups every day, or 27.5 pounds per person every year. Norway and Iceland are the second and third most prolific coffee drinkers, with the U.S. a distant 26th. 

8. Coffee is the Second Most Traded Commodity in the World 

Everyone knows crude oil is the most traded commodity in the world, but did you know that coffee is second? Worldwide people consume at least 400 billion cups of coffee a year, valued at over $100 billion, making it the world’s favorite beverage! 

9. Decaf is not Caffeine Free 

Contrary to what you may think, decaffeination doesn’t remove every bit of caffeine. Decaffeination removes 94-98 percent. So if an average cup of coffee contains 95 milligrams of caffeine, one cup of decaf will contain around 3 milligrams of caffeine. 

10. Decaffeinated Coffee Supplies the Soda Industry 

After coffee beans are decaffeinated, several manufacturers sell that caffeine to soda and pharmaceutical companies to use in their products. 

11. It Would Take 70 Cups of Coffee to Kill a 150 Pound Person 

It's hard to overdose on coffee. A video from AsapSCIENCE determined it would take 70 cups of coffee to kill a roughly 150-pound person. 

12. Brazil is the Leading Producer of Coffee in the World 

Brazil produces more coffee than any other country in the world, and they’ve held this title for over 150 years. Around 40 percent of the coffee consumed throughout the world comes from Brazil -- which is twice as much as the second place holder, Vietnam. 

13. Coffee Sent Brazil’s Athletes to the Olympics in 1932 

Brazil was experiencing a shortage of funds so much so that it was unable to send its athletes to the Los Angeles Summer Olympics in 1932. So they put their athletes on a ship, loaded it with 50,000 sacks of coffee, and sold it along the way to finance the trip. 

14. Coffee Drinkers Live Longer 

Research has shown that coffee lovers are less likely to develop a wide range of diseases, including diabetes, cancer, gout, kidney stones, cardiovascular disease, Parkinson’s, and depression. By decreasing the risk of contracting deadly diseases, coffee can significantly increase life span. 

15. Coffee Does Not Actually Cause Dehydration 

A variety of studies have shown there is no significant change in urine output when one consumes 500 to 600mg of coffee a day. You only get dehydrated if you consume too much caffeine, so there’s no reason to worry if you drink coffee in moderation. 

16. Coffee was Once a Cause for Divorce 

Around the 15th century, a Turkish law empowered a woman to divorce her husband if he failed to provide her with an adequate amount of coffee; though historians debate the veracity of this legend, there’s another version where an ancient Arab culture gave women the right to divorce their husbands only if they didn’t like their coffee. 

17. Attempts to Ban Coffee Have Been Tried Several Times 

Leaders in Mecca banned coffee in 1511 because they believed it caused radical thinking and stimulation. 

Pope Clement VII in the 16th century was pressured to ban coffee, but he had to taste it first. After a few sips, he said it was a delicious drink and didn’t grant the request. 

In 1746 Sweden took things to an extreme when it banne both coffee and coffee paraphernalia (i.e. cups and saucers). 

It was almost banned in Prussia because the King wanted people to drink more beer. 

18. Instant Coffee has Been Around for 250 Years. 

Instant coffee made its first appearance in England in 1771. It was mass-produced for the first time (and patented) in the U.S. in 1910. 

19. Two U.S. States Grow Coffee 

Only two U.S. states grow coffee: Hawaii and California. Hawaii is well recognized because of Kona coffee, which is widely thought of as one of the best tasting coffees in the world. California is a new entrant to coffee growing, with farms producing pricey premium bags. 

20. There is a Starbucks at CIA Headquarters in Langley. 

The employees at “Stealthy Starbucks,” at CIA HQ in Langley must undergo extensive background checks, and they cannot leave their post without a CIA escort.