Coffee Trivia: Fun Facts You Didn't Know

Celebrate the Passion for Coffee: Curiosities and Traditions on International Coffee Day 

1. Coffee is the second most consumed beverage in the world

After water, coffee is the most popular drink on the planet. It's estimated that more than 2.25 billion cups of coffee are consumed each day.

2. Coffee was discovered by goats

Legend has it that coffee was discovered by a goat herder in Ethiopia in the 9th century when he noticed his goats became more energetic after eating the red berries from a coffee tree.

3. Coffee beans aren't actually beans

Despite being called "coffee beans," they are actually the seeds found inside the fruit of the coffee plant, known as coffee cherries.

4. The country that consumes the most coffee per capita is not Brazil

Although Brazil is the world's largest coffee producer, Finland is the top consumer per capita, with an average of 12 kg of coffee per person each year.

5. Instant coffee is more than 100 years old

Instant coffee was invented in 1901 by Japanese chemist Satori Kato in Chicago. It was later popularized by Nescafé during World War II.

6. Beethoven was a coffee fanatic... and very picky!

The famous composer Ludwig van Beethoven had a strict coffee routine. He counted exactly 60 beans for each cup he made.

7. Drinking coffee might help you live longer

Several studies have shown that moderate coffee consumption is associated with a longer life and a lower risk of diseases like type 2 diabetes, Parkinson's, and certain types of cancer.

8. The "cappuccino" gets its name from Capuchin monks

The color of a cappuccino resembles the color of the robes worn by Capuchin monks, which is how this famous coffee drink got its name.

9. The most expensive coffee in the world is made by an animal

Kopi luwak, one of the most expensive coffees in the world, is made from beans that have been eaten and then excreted by a civet, a small mammal from Southeast Asia. This process gives the coffee a unique flavor.

10. There's a name for the irrational fear of running out of coffee

It's called "cafenophobia", which is the irrational fear of waking up in the morning and finding there's no coffee available.

11. In ancient times, coffee was eaten, not drunk

African tribes used to mix coffee beans with animal fat to make energy balls that helped them endure long journeys.

12. Coffee influenced the Industrial Revolution

During the Industrial Revolution, coffee played a crucial role. Its popularity as a stimulating beverage, instead of alcohol, helped boost productivity in factories.

13. Green coffee beans are unroasted

Coffee beans that haven't been roasted are green. Once roasted, they turn brown, and the level of roast significantly impacts the flavor of the coffee.

14. In Italy, espresso is protected by law

In Italy, espresso is considered so important to the culture that its preparation is officially regulated to ensure quality and consistency.

15. An astronaut took coffee to space

In 2015, Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti became the first person to drink an espresso in space, using a specially designed coffee machine that works in microgravity.

16. Decaffeinated coffee still contains some caffeine

Although decaf coffee is processed to remove most of the caffeine, the average cup of decaf still contains between 2 and 5 milligrams of caffeine.