Alex Carson
Coffee
Millions of people cannot get their day started without a cup or two of coffee. Some drink coffee all day long. Coffee shops like Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks are cashing in on people’s need for a good cup of coffee, and they are making millions. If you love your coffee, here are 20 sleep-shaking coffee facts every caffeine drinker needs to know.
It’s Not Just For Humans
Cats tend to live for an average of 16 years. The amount of time that cats live depends on their diet, their home life, and any diseases or conditions that they have. Creme Puff, the cat, holds the Guinness World Record as the oldest cat ever at the age of 38. According to her owners, she drank a cup of coffee every morning. They aren’t sure if this is how she lived so long, but it’s possible. Considering that she has lived twice as long as her feline counterparts, there is a good chance that coffee is the reason.
Caught In the Act
There is nothing worse than going to the coffee pot at work, only to find that someone finished the pot, and neglected to make a new one. When this happens, it is up to you to make it, which can be incredibly frustrating. The employees at the University of Cambridge were getting frustrated when they found an empty pot of coffee when they really needed a cup. To put this behavior to an end, they hooked up a webcam and pointed it directly at the pot. This way, they would know who the culprit was. When the employees knew that they were being watched, the pot was never left empty again. It’s incredible how many things technology can help us accomplish.
The Country That Consumes The Most
People from all over the world love coffee in the morning, or many times throughout the day. The country that consumes the most coffee is Finland. It is estimated that each coffee drinker consumes 26.5 pounds of coffee per year. Considering that much of the world’s coffee comes from Brazil, you would think that they are the ones who drink it the most.
Diuretic
Most people drink coffee for the caffeine to get get them going in the morning, or to keep them going during the day. There is a chemical in coffee that is a mild diuretic. This means that you will need to pee more often when you drink coffee. Thanks to the fluid that you take in with the coffee, you don’t need to worry about getting dehydrated when you drink it. You may have to pee a few times after finishing your cup of coffee, which can be frustrating, but at least you won’t get dehydrated.
Are They Really Beans?
Everyone knows that coffee comes from coffee beans, but they aren’t actually beans. They are called beans because they look like them, but they are actually berries. The next time you order a cup of coffee, make sure to ask how the coffee berries are, not the coffee beans.
Beer Substitution
People love to have a cup of coffee with their breakfast to help get themselves going for the day. There was a time when coffee wasn’t widely available, so instead, they would have a glass of beer. Can you image beer and eggs for breakfast? Most employers didn’t approve of having a beer at breakfast because who wants a drunk worker?
The Discovery Of Coffee
It is believed that a goat herder who was traveling up a mountain discovered coffee berries. When his herd ate the coffee berry, they had plenty of energy. This interested the herder, and he had to try the berries for himself. The rest is history.
The Name, Cappuccino
Cappuccino is an excellent alternative to traditional black coffee. Today, many baristas are trained to create cool designs in the foam. The name, cappuccino, comes from the Capuchin friars whose cloaks were the same color as the delicious hot beverage.
The World’s Coffee
Coffee is harvested all over the world, but there is one country in particular that really pushes the stuff out, Brazil. Brazil is responsible for 40 percent of all the world’s coffee. If you take a trip to Brazil, you can bet that you will get the best cup of coffee of your life.
Biodiesel Fuel
Scientists have found a way to turn coffee into biodiesel fuel that actually works. This isn’t something that happened overnight. It took hours and hours of tests and failed tries before they finally got it right. It will likely be a long time from now that we are filling out cars with coffee at the pump, but at least we know that it is possible. Maybe one day, when someone says, “I’m going to get coffee,” it will have two meanings. People won’t know if you are getting the coffee to drink or to power your car.
Health Benefits
The next time someone tells you that you are drinking too much coffee, you should remind them of the many benefits associated with drinking coffee. Studies have shown that drinking a cup of coffee every day can reduce your risk of developing diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and cancer. As long as you don’t have a sensitivity to caffeine, coffee is actually good for you.
The 1932 Olympics
When it was time for the 1932 Olympics, Brazil was in a very tight financial position. Things were so bad that the country didn’t have the money to send their athletes to the games. The only way they could attend was for the athletes to sell coffee, and earn the money to travel themselves. Many of the athletes found this to be humiliating, but they still sold the coffee. The chance to compete in the Olympics is something that they had been training for all of their lives. They weren’t going to let their pride ruin their chances of winning a medal for their country.
Robusta and Arabica
There are two categories of coffee. The first is Robusta, which contains a higher level of caffeine, with a harsher flavor. The second type is Arabica, which has a lower acidity level and a more delicate taste. Everyone has their own personal favorite.
Cream In Your Coffee?
Many people take their coffee with cream because it helps cut some of the bitter taste. The cream can also help thicken it up a bit. These aren’t the only two reasons to put cream in your coffee. Tests have shown the cream can help your coffee stay warmer for 20 percent longer than if you don’t add cream. If you love to drink your coffee slowly, but want it to keep it hot, add some cream. It will save you a trip to the microwave to heat it up.
Timing Is Everything
Coffee can be enjoyed at any time of the day, but most people drink it first thing in the morning. Drinking coffee when you first wake up helps give you the jumpstart that you need to begin the day. However, studies have shown that coffee is the most beneficial between 9:30 am, and 11:30 am. If you have a cup of coffee when you first wake up, pour another cut between these hours to reap all of the health benefits.
An Antidepressant
If you are feeling blue, you should drink a cup of coffee. Recent studies have shown that coffee can help elevate your mood if you suffer from depression. Before you take to your bed to wait for the depression to pass, or before you grab a bottle of liquor, try a cup of coffee first. You just might be surprised.
The Age Of the Barista
If you visit your local Starbucks, the barista who serves you will likely be young. Most are millennials who are just trying to make a living. If you visit Italy, things are much different. The average barista is 48-years-old, and they often spend most of their adult lives trying to perfect their skill.
Black Ivory Coffee
Black Ivory Coffee is the most expensive coffee in all the world. It costs up to $1,110-per-kilogram. The reason why it is so expensive is actually pretty gross. The coffee is made using the berries that elephants eat, and then poop out. Basically, you are drinking coffee that came from elephant poop. It makes you wonder why a person would pay so much for something so disgusting.
The Largest Iced Coffee
Since iced coffee is so popular in the United States, and most of the coffee in the world comes from Brazil, you would think that either of them holds the record for the largest iced coffee. It wasn’t either of them. South Korea holds the record for the largest iced coffee. The large cup held 14,118.1 liters of iced Americano coffee. It makes you wonder how many people it took to drink that cup of iced coffee.
Before Brewing
Before the brewing process was perfected, the tribes in East Africa had to find a way to consume the coffee beans. They came up with a genius idea, that likely didn’t taste too good. They would mold coffee berries with animal fat, and they called them energy balls. And they may have tasted awful, but they gave the people in the tribe plenty of energy when they needed it. This may not be a concoction that you want to try yourself.
