Here is the truth:
- The Ethiopian shepherds first noticed the effects of caffeine when they saw their goats appearing to become frisky and "dance" after eating coffee berries.
- Originally coffee was eaten .
African tribes mixed coffee berries with fat which formed edible energy balls
- The rise of Islam
This contributed greatly to the popularity of coffee. The religion prohibited drinking alcohol, but coffee was considered an acceptable drink.
- All coffee grows in the bean belt
The "bean-Belt" is the area between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn).
Hawaii is the only state in the US that grows coffee.
- In the year 1675, the king of England banned coffee houses, claiming they were places where people met to conspire against him.
- 70% of the world consumes Arabica coffee, which is mild and aromatic. The remaining 30% drinks Robusta, which is more bitter- tasting but has 50% more caffeine than Arabica.
- Coffee grows in trees. They can grow to be up to 30 feet tall, but are cultivated to be around 10 feet (3 m) tall for easy picking.
- The bean is usually a seed inside a bright berry.
- Coffee is the second most traded on earth. Oil is the first.
- Coffee berries are picked, dried and stripped down until all that is left is a green bean.
- Once shipped, the beans are roasted at around 500 F. After a few minutes, the beans will "pop" and double in size. A few minutes after that, the bean will "pop" once more. The second pop means the bean is done. Whereby its ready to fulfill its destiny.
- Espresso: |e-spres-oh|
Its not a particular type of bean, roast or blend. Its just a way that coffee is prepared (shooting pressurized, hot water through finely ground coffee)
Courtesy of Zapata Mexican Restaurant
