Coffee Comes from Cherries and 9 Other Interesting Coffee Facts

If you’re among the 64% of Americans who drink coffee every day, you’ve probably already had a cup of joe by the time you came across this article. Whether your coffee is from a drive through, a single-serving cup, or even an old-school drip, grab your daily dose of java however you like it and enjoy a few sips as you learn more about your favorite black liquid.

1. Coffee beans are the roasted seeds of coffee cherries, the fruit of a coffee tree.

2. Most coffee cherries contain two beans. If a cherry contains only one bean, it’s called a peaberry.

3. The two major varieties of coffee are Arabica and Robusta. Arabica beans are considered superior and demand higher prices on the market. They are also more difficult to grow. Generally, coffee trees must grow between 2,000 and 6,000 feet above sea level, receive about 60 inches of rain a year, and maintain a temperature between 59-75 degrees.

4. The top coffee producing country in the world is Brazil, accounting for nearly 40% of all coffee production. Second-place Vietnam produces one-fifth of the world’s coffee. Colombia, Indonesia, and Ethiopia round out the Top 5 countries.

5. Only two states in the United States are able to grow coffee, Hawaii and California, although the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico has a thriving coffee industry.

6. The only beverage more popular than coffee in the world is water.

7. European countries are the top coffee-consuming nations in the world. In Finland, which ranks #1, the average person consumes 26.45 pounds each year, and most workers’ unions in the country require coffee breaks. At #10, Canada is the only non-European country to crack the Top 10. The United States is #25.

8. Coffee is thought to have been discovered by goat herders in Ethiopia who noticed that their flock was extra energetic after eating particular berries.

9. A 12-ounce cup of coffee contains approximately 120 milligrams of caffeine. In comparison, a 12-ounce Diet Coke contains 46 milligrams of caffeine.

10. Filled with antioxidants and other beneficial nutrients, coffee (everything in moderation) has been shown to reduce internal inflammation and lower your chances of having a stroke or developing heart failure, Parkinson’s disease, colon cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease.

Sources
Insider
Johns Hopkins Medicine
National Coffee Association
World Atlas