Sip, sip…ah, don’t mind me, I was just enjoying my hot, delicious, energizing coffee…And why not, even at this time of night? 😊
By Andrew Nader.
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Coffee is the most popular drink of choice among consumers around the world for enjoyment, second only to water (which we solely rely on to survive).
From its taste to how it keeps us awake and alert, it has a big impact on societal culture. 90 percent of the world starts their day with a cup of coffee. And about two billion cups are consumed each day around the world. Read on and learn more about how coffee has impacted the world.
View more coffee statistics here.
It is safe to say, the world is addicted to coffee!
The ritual makes us more social and increases productivity and concentration. It is also rooted deeply in tradition and world history.
Do you know how coffee was first discovered?
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Brief Coffee History: A Legend in the Making
The origins of drinking coffee date back to around 700 A.D. Legend has it that coffee was first discovered by a farmer named Kaldi in Ethiopia. This farmer noticed how jumpy and active his goats were after consuming some berries grown on his land. He brought the berries back to his monastery and concocted the first coffee drink in history.
The coffee made him more awake during prayers and quickly spread throughout the region (oftentimes in religious ceremonies). And the rest is history!
Coffee History
It had a big impact on the rise of businesses and intellectual thought, quickly replacing beer and wine as a drink staple.
This impact started with the spread of coffee throughout the Arab peninsula and beyond, arriving at the trading ports of (interestingly enough) Mocha, Yemen and Java, Indonesia. It quickly became the number one trading commodity. It continued through the Age of Enlightenment with the growth of coffee shops in Europe and throughout the new world.
It is said that Isaac Newton drank 72 cups of coffee a day while working on his theory of gravity and inventing calculus.
That’s a lot of coffee!
As demand for coffee grew so did its production.
With the spread of colonialism, coffee was mainly grown on the backs of slaves. Despite this negative impact, coffee continued to have a positive effect on the world.
Coffee shops became the hub of new ideas. From the works of Bach to Beethoven to the greatest works of literature in history, coffee is to blame for their creation.
In fact, revolutionaries got together at coffee shops to discuss their ideas. From the French Revolution to the American Revolution, coffee was their fuel to spread their ideology.
In U.S. history, coffee drinking began as a protest and boycott to British taxation of tea.
It grew rapidly after the Boston Tea Party and became a patriotic gesture.
How Coffee Changed the Course of History: Coffee and a Changing World
How Coffee Changed the Course of History
Also, during the Industrial Revolution, workers drank coffee to deal with the long hours and back breaking work. Coffee was the catalyst for a changing world economy and a new world of innovative technology.
How has coffee impacted the modern world economy? The Stats are Staggering
The impact of coffee on the economic growth of the world cannot be understated. Coffee is a 100-billion-dollar industry, second only to oil in terms of economic impact.
With millions of coffee shops around the world (about 33 thousand Starbucks coffee shops alone), they are the fastest growing business in the restaurant niche.
And not to mention, about 25 million people around the world rely on coffee farms for their livelihood (mostly in poorer developing countries). The impact of coffee on the economy.
Coffee is traditionally grown with sustainable practices, such as growing beans in the shade. However, throughout history, the desire to increase production has led to less sustainable practices such as slash and burn (which included tearing down rain forests and replacing them with coffee plants) and growing beans in the sun.
Certified Fair-Trade Coffee: What it is and Why it Matters
With globalization and the growing trend of sustainability to save our planet, things have changed for the better.
Certified fair-trade coffee has become very popular and the name of the game. It is a type of production that allows you to know where the coffee is coming from.
It also increases fair prices and profit for small time farmers. It improves the economy and makes our world a better place.
Read more about Certified Fair-Trade Coffee here.
The Impact of Coffee on Our Health: The good news on Coffee
Coffee increases productivity. It is a part of every business meeting and every worker’s break during the workday. It is ingrained in our work culture. Not only this, but did you know that it is also healthy?
That’s right.
Moderate coffee consumption (about two to five cups per day) reduces the risk of diseases like heart attacks, diabetes, and cancer.
It can also increase short-term memory, stimulate the brain, and make learning things easier. It has a big impact on our physical and also mental health. It can even make you smarter!
Coffee’s Impact on our health
Coffee has changed the culture of countries around the world and even entire economies. It is now deeply ingrained in our culture and daily lives. From coffee dates to business meetings, coffee is the drink of choice.
It is safe to say, coffee has deeply impacted our world in so many ways.
Now back to my coffee!
Photo by kerdkanno
