Coffee

Coffee is a popular drink made from roasted, ground coffee beans. It is dark in color and has a slightly bitter taste. Coffee can help you feel more awake and alert because it contains a substance called caffeine. If you prefer less caffeine, there is also decaffeinated coffee available.

To make coffee, people start with seeds from coffee cherries that grow on coffee plants. These seeds are called green coffee beans. They are roasted and ground into fine particles. Then, hot water is poured over the ground beans, and the liquid is filtered out to make coffee. Coffee is usually served hot, but many people enjoy it cold as iced coffee. There are many ways to make coffee, such as espresso, French press, latte, or even canned coffee. People often add sugar, milk, or cream to improve the taste.

Coffee has a long history that began near the Red Sea. People first started drinking coffee in Yemen in the middle of the 15th century. For a long time, most of the world's coffee came from Yemen. Later, coffee growing spread to Java in the 17th century and to the Americas in the 18th century.

Today, two main types of coffee beans are grown: C. arabica and C. robusta. Coffee plants are grown in over 70 countries, mostly near the equator in the Americas, Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, and Africa. The coffee industry is very big, with Brazil being the largest producer. However, many coffee farmers face difficult times, and the industry has been criticized for harming the environment.

Etymology

The word coffee entered English in 1582. It came from several languages. It started from Dutch koffie, then Ottoman Turkish kahve, and finally Arabic qahwah. In Arabic, qahwah meant something dark, a good name for dark coffee.

Other coffee words like coffee pot and coffee break came later, in 1705 and 1952.

History

Main article: History of coffee

There are many old stories about how coffee was first found. One story says that an angel told a person about coffee. Another story talks about a goatherd named Kaldi who noticed his goats acting energetic after eating coffee plants. These stories are likely just legends.

Coffee became known in places like Yemen and the Ottoman Empire in the 15th and 16th centuries. It was used by groups like Sufis to help them stay awake during religious practices. Coffee spread from Yemen to other parts of the Middle East and North Africa. By the 17th century, coffee had reached Europe. The first coffeehouse in Europe opened in Istanbul in 1555, and later, one opened in Venice in 1647.

Coffee was also grown in places like Java and Martinique, and it became an important crop in countries like Brazil and many parts of Central and South America. Today, coffee is an important part of the economy for many countries.

Biology

Further information: List of coffee varieties

Several types of small shrubs called Coffea grow berries that we use to make coffee. The two most common types are C. canephora (known as 'robusta') and C. arabica. C. arabica comes from places like Ethiopia, Sudan, and Kenya, while C. canephora grows in western and central Africa.

Coffee plants are evergreen shrubs or trees. They can grow up to 5 meters tall. They have dark green leaves and beautiful white flowers. After the flowers, small oval berries grow. These berries start green, then turn yellow, red, and finally black when dried. Inside each berry are the coffee seeds. Most of the time, the seeds come in pairs, but sometimes there is just one seed called a peaberries.

Cultivation and production

Coffee plants are usually planted by placing seeds in holes during the rainy season. Small plants called seedlings are often grown in nurseries first and then moved outside after several months. Coffee plants grow best between areas called the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn.

In 2020, Brazil produced the most coffee, followed by Vietnam, Colombia, and Indonesia. Brazil is also the biggest exporter of coffee. Some companies are working on creating synthetic coffee products.

Species variations

There are two main types of coffee plants: arabica and robusta. Arabica coffee is usually considered better-tasting, but robusta coffee has more caffeine and is cheaper. Robusta coffee is also more resistant to diseases and can grow in warmer places where arabica cannot. Robusta coffee was first found near the Lomani River in Africa and was later spread to other countries. Different places produce coffee with different flavors, depending on where they are grown and how they are processed. Arabica coffee is mainly grown in Latin America, eastern Africa, and Asia, while robusta is grown in central Africa, southeast Asia, and Brazil.

Ecological effects

See also: Sustainable coffee

Historically, coffee was grown under the shade of trees, which helped many animals and insects live there. However, since the 1970s, some farmers have started growing coffee in direct sunlight. This method can produce more coffee but harms the environment by cutting down trees and using more chemicals. Shaded coffee farms are better for wildlife and the environment. Coffee farming uses a lot of water, and climate change may affect coffee production in some countries. Some coffee is grown following sustainability standards like Fairtrade.

Preprocessing

Coffee berries are usually picked by hand, but sometimes machines are used to collect all berries at once. After picking, the coffee beans go through a process to remove the outer layers. One method involves drying the beans on tables, which is less common but produces better quality coffee. Most African coffee is dried this way.

Processing

Roasting

After harvesting, coffee beans are roasted to get them ready for drinking. Roasting changes the beans in many ways. It makes them lose weight as they dry out, and it makes them bigger and less dense. Roasting also gives coffee its rich color and flavor. When the beans heat up to about 200 °C, they start to turn brown and develop the oils that give coffee its smell and taste.

Grading roasted beans

See also: Food grading

Roasted coffee beans are sorted by color into groups like light, medium, or dark. This helps decide what kind of flavor the coffee will have. Some places use special machines to measure the color more exactly.

Roast characteristics

The amount of roasting changes how the coffee will taste. Darker roasts look bolder and have a sweeter taste, while lighter roasts keep more of the beans’ natural oils, giving a richer flavor. Roasting does not change how much caffeine is in the beans, but because the beans get bigger during roasting, you end up with a little less caffeine by volume.

Decaffeination

Decaffeination of coffee seeds is done while the seeds are still green. Many methods can remove caffeine from coffee, but all involve either soaking the green seeds in hot water or steaming them. Decaffeination is often done by processing companies, and the extracted caffeine is usually sold to the pharmaceutical industry.

Storage

To keep coffee tasting fresh, it should be stored in a container that does not let air in. Good containers are made of ceramic, glass, or certain metals. Coffee should stay away from moisture, heat, and light to keep its flavor. It also picks up smells easily, so it should be kept away from strong-smelling foods. Putting coffee in the refrigerator is not a good idea because the moisture there can spoil it. In the past, coffee was packed in sealed cans with most of the air removed, which kept it fresh for a very long time. This method is still used in many places today.

Preparation

Coffee beans are ground and mixed with hot water to make the drink. There are many ways to do this, and each way can change how the coffee tastes. The beans are ground and then soaked in hot water just long enough to get the flavor out.

You can grind the beans in different tools, like a burr grinder, a blade grinder, or even with a mortar and pestle. One common way is to use a burr grinder because it makes the grounds more even. There are many ways to brew coffee! Some people boil the beans in water, like in Turkish coffee. Others use a drip brewer or an automatic machine where hot water drips over the grounds. There’s also espresso, where hot water is forced through the grounds to make a strong coffee. And if you like cold drinks, you can try cold brew coffee, which is made by soaking the beans in cold water for hours.

Once the coffee is brewed, it can be served in many ways. You can drink it black, or add milk, cream, sugar, or other flavorings. If you cool it down, it becomes iced coffee. Espresso can also be mixed with milk in different ways to make drinks like cappuccinos or lattes. Instant coffee is also popular — it’s dried coffee that you can just dissolve in hot water.

Economics

Main article: Economics of coffee

World production

In 2023, the world made about 11 million tonnes of green coffee beans. Brazil made the most, and Vietnam was the second biggest maker.

Commodity market

Coffee beans are bought and sold by roasters, investors, and others. Coffee contracts are sold on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Contracts happen every year in March, May, July, September, and December. Coffee has often been called the second most traded product, behind only oil. Coffee is still a big export for many countries.

Consumption

Nordic countries drink the most coffee per person each year. Finland drinks the most, followed by Norway, Iceland, Denmark, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Canada.

Economic impacts

In the 1800s, changes in the coffee market made Brazil switch from gold to coffee farming. This helped build many railroads and brought in workers. This mostly happened in the State of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. Many people from Portugal, Italy, Spain, Germany, and Japan moved to Brazil to work and find better lives. Coffee farming grew a lot and became a big part of Brazil’s economy.

Fair trade

Main article: Fair trade coffee

See also: Fair trade debate

Fair trade coffee started in the late 1980s to make sure farmers got a good price. Over time, more coffee has been sold this way. Some big companies now sell fair trade coffee.

Specialty coffee and new trading relationships

Main article: Specialty coffee

Specialty coffee has made people want to know where their coffee comes from. Some businesses work directly with farmers to get special, high-quality coffee. Some coffee is even sold through online auctions.

Composition

Brewed coffee is mostly water. Typical coffee has about 99.4% water, and espresso has about 97.8% water. It contains caffeine, which can help you feel more awake. It also has small amounts of dietary minerals and B vitamins, especially in espresso.

Coffee includes compounds like polyphenols, but there is no proof that these help health or act as antioxidants when we drink them. For most adults, drinking about three to four cups of coffee a day is safe and does not cause health problems.

Pharmacology

Main articles: List of chemical compounds in coffee and Health effects of coffee

Coffee contains a chemical called caffeine, which helps to wake people up. Caffeine works by blocking certain signals in the brain. Coffee also has other chemicals, but scientists are still learning more about them.

Drinking coffee is generally safe for most people when had in normal amounts, like 3 to 4 cups a day. However, it might not be good for everyone—for example, it could increase the risk of bone fractures in some women or affect pregnancy. Coffee also has dietary fiber, which is good for the body.

Caffeine content

See also: Low caffeine coffee

The amount of caffeine in coffee changes depending on how it is made and what kind of coffee beans are used. For example, a cup of regular coffee might have about 40 mg of caffeine per 100 ml, while espresso can have around 212 mg per 100 ml. The way coffee is roasted does not change its caffeine content much.

Society and culture

See also: Coffee culture in Australia and Coffee culture in former Yugoslavia

Coffee is often enjoyed with breakfast at home or in places like diners. It is also commonly served at the end of a meal, especially with dessert.

Coffeehouses, also called cafés, have been around for over 500 years. The first one opened in 1475 in Constantinople. Today, people who prepare coffee in these places are often called a barista.

The coffee break is a short rest period for workers, starting in the late 19th century in Stoughton, Wisconsin. It became popular through ads and is now a common part of work life.

Historically, some groups have had rules about coffee.

There are many fun stories about coffee. For example, the Oromo people had traditions involving coffee trees. The phrase "cup of Joe" for coffee may come from a U.S. Navy officer named Josephus "Joe" Daniels who banned alcohol on ships, making coffee the strongest drink available. Johann Sebastian Bach even wrote a humorous piece called the Coffee Cantata about coffee in the 1700s.