Coffee beans are fascinating. How does this one species of plant provide us so much joy and invigoration in the morning or any time of day?
They provide us energy and flavor.
Not only this, they are also healthy in moderate amounts in our daily cup of joe.
What do you know about coffee beans?
It is time to broaden your horizons and expand your knowledge.
I have some fun and interesting facts about coffee beans.
By Andrew.
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Did You Know Coffee Is Actually A Fruit?
That’s right. Coffee beans grow on a coffee tree.
They are actually not beans at all, but seeds from coffee cherries.
These coffee cherries come in two main types: green and red. The cherry has a bitter skin on the outside.
On the inside, there is fragrant, sweet flesh that can actually taste pretty good, comparable to a mango.
Under this flesh, you will usually find not one, but two coffee “beans.”
The quality of coffee depends on the ripeness of the cherry.
The Two Main Types of Coffee Beans are Arabica and Robusta
Arabica is the predominant type.
Most coffee growers choose to grow Arabica coffee beans as it is the sweeter type and is most often smoother as well.
They have notes of sugar and chocolate, with bright fruity undertones as well.
About 60 percent of the world’s coffee is produced by Arabica growers. Read more here.
Robusta is less popular as it is more bitter and contains more caffeine.
The Majority of Coffee Beans are Produced in Brazil
Brazil produces by itself nearly 40 percent of the world’s coffee supply.
The climate in Brazil is perfect for coffee farming.
The country has about 17,000 square miles dedicated to coffee farming.
It also has a unique method of coffee production called unwashed coffee where the coffee cherries are dried in the sun.
Only Two U.S. States Produce Coffee
Hawaii and California are the only U.S states that produce coffee.
Hawaii has the perfect climate for coffee production and was the first U.S. state to produce coffee.
California has an optimal climate as well and only recently started to produce coffee and sells many more expensive varieties.
Speaking of Expensive Coffee
The world’s most expensive coffee can cost up to as much as 600 dollars per pound.
The most prized coffee in the world comes from the poop of a cat like creature called a palm civet, an animal that eats coffee cherries but is unable to digest them.
I am unsure whether I want to try it.
The Grounds of Coffee Beans can Actually Beautify Your Skin
That’s right. Besides waking you up in morning and providing a delicious taste, coffee grounds can exfoliate the skin, lifting dead skin cells, making your skin look younger and brighter.
Coffee Beans are Nutritious
Coffee beans are packed with antioxidants and nutrients, including B vitamins, which boost brain health and provide antibacterial and antiviral effects.
In fact, one single cup of black coffee has about 11 percent of the recommended daily amount of riboflavin.
Coffee also contains ferulic acid, which has anti-inflammatory properties.
In addition, caffeine in coffee increases our metabolic rate and blood circulation making us healthier.
The health benefits of coffee also include lowering the risk of Alzheimer’s, diabetes, dementia, and certain cancers.
Coffee Cherry Wine?
There is such a thing.
While this is not necessarily about the beans themselves, but it is an interesting fact nonetheless.
The flesh of a coffee cherry fruit around the beans on the inside can be made into a drink that is steeped like tea.
East African coffee growers have been making the drink for centuries, but it has only recently gained popularity elsewhere, starting in 2010.
Ancient Coffee Cherry Recipe
Just like with the coffee cherry wine, East African tribes were the first to make a traditional coffee cherry recipe that is mixed with animal fat and eaten as food.
This was before people figure out how to brew coffee with water.
Consuming Coffee Beans May Lower the Risk of Depression
As discussed above, consuming coffee beans as brewed coffee or eating the coffee beans themselves have anti-inflammatory effects, which can lower the risk of depression.
Caffeine blocks chemicals in the brain that cause a bad mood.
Conclusion
Did you ever think in your life that you would know so much about coffee beans as you do now?
Show off your knowledge of the top ten facts about coffee beans on your next coffee date.
Photo by 1195798.
