Have you ever looked at coffee facts or coffee consumption statistics? That’s probably a no from most of you, but I was doing some research for this post and even I (obviously obsessed with coffee) was surprised by what I found. Coffee is loved worldwide, but Americans alone consume 26.5 million 60-kilogram bags of coffee per year. That’s a lot of coffee! You might not be a total dork like me when it comes to facts and statistics, but I bet you’ll still be interested in some of these other coffee facts that will surprise you.
10 Coffee Facts That Will Surprise You
1. Decaf isn’t caffeine-free.
Say what? Yeah, I know. I was surprised by this too. But don’t worry, the decaffeination process removes about 97% of caffeine. That means you’re looking at around 7 mg per 8-oz cup of coffee. That’s really nothing to give a second thought to, unless you’re trying to avoid caffeine entirely for health or other reasons.
2. Coffee is the 2nd largest globally traded commodity.
If you really think about this, it’s pretty crazy. Of all the materials and products that could be number two on the list of globally traded commodities, coffee takes the spot. It’s second only to crude oil. There’s crude oil – one of the most important energy sources in the world – and then there’s coffee. Are you sensing the intensity I’m saying this with? I’m kind of blown away by this fact. Ironically, like crude oil, coffee is something people all over the world consider a pretty valuable energy source for our daily human function.
3. Espresso is just coffee prepared differently.
Did anyone else wholeheartedly believe that there were coffee beans and there were espresso beans and the two were totally different things? I hope at least some of you are raising your hands, because I believed that until only a few years ago. To be fair, they aren’t the same thing entirely, but at their source, they are the same thing.
Espresso beans are is just coffee beans, generally roasted a little longer than coffee beans so they have a different flavor. Espresso is made from a fine grind of that bean and the water is forced through that fine grind instead of just a drip through a courser grind for regular coffee. That brings out a stronger flavor in the espresso. Surprisingly though, there is still more caffeine in a 12 oz cup of coffee than there is in a 2 oz shot of espresso. While oz vs oz, espresso has more caffeine than regular drip coffee, no one is drinking 12 shots of espresso. That means even three shots of espresso won’t surpass or even equal the caffeine content in most 12 oz coffees.
4. Coffee beans are actually seeds…from fruit.
Coffee seeds are called beans simply because they look more like beans than seeds. That’s it. The coffee “bean” comes from the fruit of a coffee plant, called the cherry or berry. Each cherry usually contains two “beans” with the flat sides together.
5. A typical cup of regular brewed coffee contains more caffeine than any other kind of beverage
Your typical cup of coffee contains at least (and usually more than) 100 mg of caffeine. That’s more than any other kind of beverage out there, even energy drinks. The most intense energy drink still contains 1.9 mg less caffeine per ounce. According to the experts, a person shouldn’t consume more than 400 mg of caffeine per day, no matter the source. So I say enjoy your coffee in moderation so you can keep enjoying it!
6. There’s a World Cup for coffee
Every year, regional coffee competitions are held all over the world. Those who achieve national titles then move on to compete on the international stage. Barista Championship, Brewers Cup, Latte Art, and Cup Tasters are the competitions included. The “World’s Coffee King” is crowned at the World Brewer’s Cup Championship in Melbourne, Australia every year.
7. Finland drinks more coffee than any other country in the world
The United States seems to be obsessed with coffee, at least from our perspective. But when you look at the numbers, Finland has us beat. Not only does Finland have us beat, it’s one of ten other countries who consume more coffee than the United States. We are number eleven on the list as of the last statistics recorded in 2016.
8. Coffee might fuel our cars one day
I like to say coffee is the answer to everything. Obviously, I’m not the only one who believes that. Scientists have managed to turn coffee grounds into bio-diesel. So the drink that fuels your daily activities might also one day fuel your daily commute. You can read about that discovery here,
9. Only two states in the U.S. produce coffee
There are 50 countries that make up the top coffee producing countries and the United States is not one of them. Hawaii and, most recently, California provide some rather pricey premium coffee in the U.S. If you’re wondering what country produces the most coffee, Brazil takes the number one spot.
10. There are more than 100 different coffee species and we only use two of them
Arabica and Robusta are the two species of coffee most commonly produced and sold around the world. Arabica coffee tends to have a sweeter, softer taste while Robusta has a harsher, stronger taste.
Robusta costs less and is often used for cheaper, mass marketed coffees. Companies like Starbucks use Arabica beans and that’s where some of that extra expense comes from when you compare their prices to the gas station coffee down the street.
Related: Have you heard about shade grown coffee? Check out Shade Grown Coffee: Why it’s the Best Choice
Even after all my research, I know there are some surprising coffee facts that I didn’t mention here. Do you know any? Share them with us in the comments!
2 comments
Thank you!!1
Thanks for reading!!