Did you know...
...coffee has been around for over 11 centuries and is currently the most widely consumed beverage in the world? Over 400 billion cups are consumed every year!
... In 1822 the French were the first to innovate a crude espresso machine? The Italians then perfected this machine and became the first to manufacture it.
... the legend of 'Cowboy Coffee'? It was said that cowboys made their coffee by putting ground coffee into a clean sock and immersed it in water heated over a camp fire. When ready, they would pour the coffee into tin cups and drink it.
... caffeine is on the International Olympic Committee list of prohibited substances? Athletes who test positive for more than 12 micrograms of caffeine per millilitre of urine may be banned from the Olympic Games. This level may be reached after drinking about 5 cups of coffee.
... that the infamous French Revolution was born in French Cafes? It happened in 1789 when the Parisians, spurred on by Camille Desmoulin's verbal campaign, took to the streets and two days later the Bastille fell, marking the overthrow of the French Government and changing France forever.
... coffee beans are graded in various ways? Example: Kenyan coffees are graded as A, B and C. AA is the best coffee. In Costa Rica, coffees are graded as Strictly Hard Bean, Good Hard Bean, Hard Bean, Medium Hard Bean, High Grown Atlantic, Medium Grown Atlantic, and Low Grown Atlantic. Those coffee beans from Colombia are labelled as 'Supremo', 'Excelso', 'Extra' and the lowest grade, 'Pasilla'.
... Turkish bridegrooms were once required to make a promise during their wedding ceremonies to always provide their new wives with coffee? If they failed to do so, it was grounds for divorce!
... Japan is now the third largest consumer of coffee? They try to improve their skin and reduce wrinkles by bathing in coffee grounds that were fermented with pineapple pulp.
... The largest consumers of coffee in the world, per capita, are Finland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark!
... there are two major coffee markets in the world? One is in London, which deals with the buying of Robusta coffee. The other is the 'C' contract market, known as Coffee, Sugar and Cocoa Exchange (CSCE), which is in New York. It handles the trade of Arabica coffee. The 'C' market is also a futures market.
... The requirements for making good espresso is summarized by the 4 'M's? Macinazione (the correct grinding of coffee beans), Miscela (coffee blend), Macchina (the espresso machine) and of course, Mano (barista).
... Beethoven, who was a coffee lover, was so particular about his coffee that he always counted 60 beans for each cup when he prepared his brew!
... in 1785, the coffee revolt broke out in Prussia because coffee consumption was restricted to the nobility, the clergy and high officials!
... coffee was first known in Europe as Arabian Wine!
... Bach wrote a coffee cantata in 1732!
... in the year 1763, there were over 200 coffee shops in Venice!
... the heavy tea tax imposed on the American colonies in 1773, which caused the 'Boston Tea Party', resulted in America switching from tea to coffee? Drinking coffee was an expression of freedom.
... the average age of an Italian barista is 48 years old? A barista is a respected job title in Italy.
... Italy now has over 200,000 coffee bars, and still growing!
... in Greece and Turkey, the oldest person is always served their coffee first!
... raw coffee beans, soaked in water and spices, are chewed like candy in many parts of Africa!
... in the last three centuries, 90% of all people living in the Western world have switched from tea to coffee!!!
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Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Little Known Coffee Facts
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