Coffee

Coffee is a popular drink made from roasted, ground coffee beans. It is dark in color, a bit bitter, and has a slight tang. What makes coffee special is that it can wake you up and make you feel more alert, thanks to a substance called caffeine it contains. If you prefer less caffeine, there is also decaffeinated coffee available.

To make coffee, people start with the seeds from coffee cherries that grow on coffee plants. These seeds, called green coffee beans, 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. It is usually served hot, but many people enjoy it cold as iced coffee. Coffee can be made in many ways, 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. The earliest reports of people drinking coffee come from the Sufis 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, worth about $495.50 billion as of 2023, with Brazil being the biggest producer. However, many coffee farmers face hard times, and the industry has been criticized for harming the environment.

Etymology

The word coffee came into the English language in 1582. It traveled through several languages: first from Dutch koffie, then from Ottoman Turkish kahve, and finally from Arabic qahwah. In Arabic, qahwah was a term for something dark, which made sense for the dark-colored brew.

Other coffee-related terms like coffee pot and coffee break appeared much 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 that 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, which most of the time 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. Sometimes, small plants called seedlings are grown in nurseries first and then moved outside after several months. Coffee plants grow best between certain 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. While synthetic coffee products are not available to the public yet, some companies are working on creating them.

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, which can produce more coffee but harms the environment by cutting down trees and using more chemicals. This method can also cause health problems. 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. Another unusual method involves coffee beans that have been eaten and partially digested by animals, resulting in very expensive coffee.

Processing

Roasting

After harvesting, coffee beans are roasted to prepare them 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. The 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 (often called the "Swiss water process") or steaming them, then using a solvent to dissolve the caffeine-containing oils. 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 need to be 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. Usually, the beans are ground and then soaked in hot water just long enough to get the flavor out, but not too long that it becomes bitter. After that, the used grounds are removed, and you have your coffee!

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 too! 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, concentrated 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. Some people even mix coffee with alcohol to make special drinks! 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, with 31% of all coffee, and Vietnam was the second biggest maker.

Commodity market

Coffee beans are bought and sold by roasters, investors, and others as a special product in markets and special funds. Coffee contracts for a type called Grade 3 washed arabicas are sold on the New York Mercantile Exchange under the name KC. Contracts happen every year in March, May, July, September, and December. Other types of arabica coffee and robusta coffee are sold in other ways. Since the 1970s, coffee has often been called the second most traded product, but it was really the second most valuable thing that poor countries sold. It was behind only oil. Coffee is still a big export for many countries, but newer numbers are hard to find.

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 led to building many railroads, which helped bring 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 before harvesting. Over time, more coffee has been sold this way. Some big companies now sell fair trade coffee. But studies show that fair trade doesn’t always help all farmers equally.

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. This can mean cutting out middle people or working fairly with them. Some coffee is even sold through online auctions, where the best coffees are chosen and sold to the highest bidder.

Composition

Brewed coffee is mostly water, with about 99.4% in typical coffee and 97.8% in espresso. It contains caffeine, which gives it a stimulating effect, along with small amounts of dietary minerals and B vitamins, especially in espresso.

While coffee includes compounds like polyphenols, there is no proof that these provide health benefits or act as antioxidants when consumed. For most adults, drinking about three to four cups of coffee a day is safe and does not pose health risks.

Pharmacology

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

Coffee contains a chemical called caffeine, which acts as a stimulant and helps to wake people up. Caffeine works by blocking certain signals in the brain. Coffee also has other chemicals that might affect how it works, 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, and it can help people get more of this important nutrient.

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, as roasting temperatures do not get high enough to break down the caffeine.

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. For example, some religions have debated whether it is allowed. In the past, leaders in different places sometimes banned coffeehouses for political reasons.

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.