Did you know that coffee beans are the seeds of a fruit similar to a cherry? Did you also know that most of the world’s coffee is grown by small-scale farming families? Coffee is actually the world’s second most traded commodity, coming in only behind petroleum, with the coffee market earning nearly sixty billion dollars annually. The importance of coffee globally cannot be denied; here are some interesting facts and statistics that even coffee aficionados may not know.
Coffee trees can only be grown in areas without winter frost. While many varieties of coffee plants exist, only two are widely cultivated: Arabica and Robusta. Arabica is considered to be of higher quality but can only be grown at altitudes above 2,000 feet, while Robusta can thrive at lower elevations. It takes three to five years for a coffee tree to reach maturity, and the average yield from a single tree is approximately one roasted pound of coffee per year. Coffee cherries usually contain two beans, except for the single peaberry anomaly. In some regions, the peaberry is considered the “caviar” of coffees, while in others, it is discarded as a below-grade product.
Coffee is grown in over fifty-three countries worldwide, all located near the equator, between the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. Brazil is the largest coffee producer, accounting for about 30% of total world output. Colombia ranks second. Nearly seven million tons of green coffee beans are produced each year globally, with the majority being hand-picked. Unfortunately, coffee farmers often earn as little as four cents per pound for these hand-picked beans; for every pound of gourmet coffee sold, small coffee farmers receive just over twelve cents. The fair trade movement aims to redistribute profits so that these farmers receive a decent wage for their hard work. Notably, no coffee is grown in the United States or its territories, except in Hawaii and Puerto Rico.
The first coffeehouse in Europe opened in Venice in 1683, although coffee had been available since 1608, primarily for the upper class. Historically, coffeehouses have served as popular meeting places for revolutionaries and political debate. In France, revolutionaries discussed the bourgeoisie in Parisian coffeehouses, while the founding fathers of the United States formed their national policies in these establishments. The Boston Tea Party of 1773 convened in a coffeehouse, as the heavy tea tax prompted Americans to switch to coffee as an expression of freedom.
While coffee is thought to have been first brewed by the Arabs, it may not have reached Christians as quickly without Pope Clement VIII. When coffee first arrived in Rome, some Christian priests believed that Satan had invented it as a substitute for wine, which Muslims were prohibited from drinking. Since wine is used in Christian practices like Holy Communion, priests viewed coffee as a drink of the Anti-Christ. Faced with these strong beliefs, Pope Clement VIII asked to try a cup before making a decision. After tasting it, he blessed coffee as a Christian beverage, resulting in massive imports of coffee to Italy and the Western world.
Today, U.S. coffee drinkers consume approximately 3.1 cups per day on average, with the standard cup size being nine ounces. Fifty-two percent of Americans over the age of eighteen drink coffee every morning, while thirty percent drink it occasionally, meaning over eighty percent of Americans consume coffee. Sixty-five percent of coffee consumers add sweeteners. On average, coffee drinkers spend $164.71 per year on coffee, and those who grab a cup to go from a local coffeehouse spend nearly forty-five hours waiting in line each year! Coffee is the leading source of caffeine consumption in the United States and is the world’s second most popular drink after water. Interestingly, men and women have similar coffee habits but different reasons for drinking it: women often see coffee as a way to relax, while men view it as a productivity booster. Generally, women are more concerned about coffee prices than men. Coffee is often used in conjunction with a keto diet to support weight loss, and caffeine is an active ingredient in many keto products, as this keto boost review explains.
Of the one hundred million daily coffee drinkers in the U.S., thirty million enjoy specialty beverages such as lattes, cappuccinos, and mochas. The average price for these espresso drinks is nearly double that of regular brewed coffee. As the consumption of specialty drinks continues to rise each year, more coffee shops are expected to open across the United States. It has been projected that there will be over 50,000 coffee shops nationwide by 2010.
The popularity of coffee products worldwide is astonishing; it appeals to people of different income levels, ethnicities, and religions. While many of us enjoy it each morning, we know very little about coffee facts and statistics, like where a coffee bean comes from! Now you can impress your friends with your newfound coffee trivia expertise.
