Wake Up Wisconsin!

History Of Coffee

The history of coffee dates back many centuries. One popular story says coffee was discovered in Ethiopia when a goat herder noticed that his goats became energetic after eating coffee cherries from a particular tree. They were so full of energy that they did not want to sleep at night. The herder then made a drink from the cherries and brought it to a local monastery, where one of the monks struggled to stay awake during prayer. Coffee later spread to the Middle East, Europe, and eventually the Americas. Over time, coffeehouses became places where people met to talk, work, and get their daily dose of caffeine to start the day.

How Coffee Is Made

Coffee begins as seeds on the coffee plant, these seeds are known as cherries. The beans are removed, dried, roasted, and then ground. Hot water is passed through the grounds to brew the drink. The flavor of coffee can vary depending on where it is grown, how it is roasted, and the brewing method used. There is also a very expensive type of coffee made from cherries that have been digested by animals such as elephants, bats, and wild civets. The cherries are collected after digestion and then roasted. This type of coffee can come with a high price tag, costing up to $150 for 100 to 250 grams.

Why Coffee Matters

Coffee is more than just a drink. It is an important global product that supports farmers, roasters, and local businesses. Many people begin their day with coffee, meet friends over coffee, or use coffee shops as places to study and work. Colombia loves coffee so much that it even has a theme park dedicated to it, complete with a coffee museum.

Fun Facts About Coffee

• Coffee is one of the most traded agricultural products in the world.
• Brazil is one of the largest coffee producers.
• There are two main commercial coffee bean types: Arabica and Robusta.
• Different roast levels include light, medium, and dark roast.
• Coffee was banned before in Mecca around 1511 because it was believed to encourage radical thinking.
• The world consumes 2.25 billion cups of coffee every single day, with Finland being the biggest coffee consumer.
• The webcam was invented because Cambridge University scientists were tired of constantly approaching an empty coffee pot, so they invented the webcam to keep an eye on the amount of coffee available.