Coffee: Facts, Myths, And Trivia

By Author: j.britt
Total Articles: 3
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Ah, coffee! For those who love it, it's not something easily given up. Perhaps because this beverage is so popular, facts, myths, and trivia surround it. Some are true, some aren't, and some are just fun facts.

Let's face it. Most of us are bleary eyed, stumbling about with feet dragging when we first wake up in the morning. Yet, when that delightfully rich, and oh so tantalizing coffee aroma tickles our nostrils we schlep, yawning and stretching in its direction. Not only is the smell of coffee a great eye opener, recent studies show that consuming up to three 8-ounce cups of coffee a day has proven health benefits.

So let's take a look at some of the health benefits, facts, myths, and trivia about coffee!

1. Coffee Houses and Shops

You may think that coffee houses and coffee shops are a modern invention, but actually, King Charles II of England proclaimed a ban on coffee houses way back in 1675! The reason for the ban? King Charles II feared that his enemies were meeting in these coffee houses to plot against him.

2. Mocha = Chocolate?

When you hear "mocha," you probably think of ...
... a beverage that's a chocolate-coffee combination. But actually, "Mocha" is the name of a port in Yemen, and it is here that coffee beans from Africa are transported. So "Mocha" has to do with the origin of the coffee bean you're drinking, not whether or not it contains chocolate.

3. How Much?

The US is the top coffee consuming nation in the world, with 400 million cups consumed daily.

4. Espresso versus Cappuccino versus Latte

First, espresso does not refer to the type of coffee bean, but rather, it refers to the way it is prepared.

For coffee to be considered espresso, it needs to be made by forcing a small amount of hot water through very finely-ground coffee beans. This produces a very concentrated form of coffee.

Cappuccino and lattes are coffee drinks made with espresso as the base. The name "cappuccino" is said to refer to the frothy, peaked, white topping that resembles the white hood of the Capuchin friars' habit. A latte is made with espresso and steamed milk without the topping.

5. Coffee Trees

No one can tell you that coffee doesn't grow on trees, because it does! Coffee trees can live up to 100 years,

and it takes about five years before the tree begins producing coffee beans. One tree will yield about 1 pound of coffee a year. It takes about 2000 raw coffee beans to make a pound.

6. A Cup of Joe

Ever wonder why coffee is sometimes referred to as "Joe"? Admiral Josephus "Joe" Daniels banned alcohol on all Navy ships in the early 1900s, so the sailors turned to coffee, which they named after him in remembrance of his restrictions.

7. One Bean or Two?

Coffee "berries" or raw coffee beans are round and smooth. When roasted, they split in half. So the coffee beans you see in a package of un-ground coffee are actually half-beans.

8. Oil and Coffee

Next to oil, coffee is the second-largest traded commodity in the world.

9. Perky Beverage

The coffee percolator was invented by James Mason in December 1865, just six days before the New Year.

10. Memory Boost

A 2005 study showed that coffee improves memory, and a follow-up study indicated that the memory-enhancing effects could be long-term.

Coffee also has other health benefits that you may or may not know about:

1. Helps fight disease. Caffeine may help protect our brain cells from damage that causes Parkinson's, dementia, and Alzheimer's. Also the antioxidants in coffee could, actually, help prevent liver disease.

2. Gives the brain a boost. Coffee keeps you alert when you may otherwise feel drowsy.

Try drinking a cup before an exam or if you have a long drive to sharpen your memory and to stay alert.

3. Helps you lose weight. Caffeine consumption can speed up metabolism and the fat-burning process, which also helps lower the risk of obesity. It is also one of the lowest calorie drinks you can choose.

4. Lowers risk of diabetes. Drinking just one cup of coffee a day - caffeinated or decaf - can decrease the risk of developing diabetes by 13%. But at 12 cups a day, the risk of getting diabetes is slashed by 67%. While these are staggering results, you should consult your doctor before taking the 12-cup a day challenge and always consume caffeine in moderation.

5. Coffee may help with depression. People who consume four or more cups of coffee a day are 10% less likely to be depressed than someone who doesn't drink coffee at all, says a joint study from the National Institutes of Health and the AARP. Strangely the same benefits are not found in other caffeinated beverages, such as colas whose consumers are linked to a higher risk for depression. Since studies show that black coffee has the highest benefits, perhaps it is the high sugar content in cola that places its consumers at such a high risk for depression.

6. It might be good for your liver. Studies suggest that caffeine helps the liver regulate itself. A person's risk of developing Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), (a rare autoimmune disease that can lead to cirrhosis of the liver, liver failure, and even cancer.), with regular coffee consumption is reduced, says research by the Mayo Clinic. Also, a separate 22-year study of 125K people discovered that those who drank at least one cup of coffee a day were 20% less likely to develop alcoholic cirrhosis.

With its brain and metabolism boosting power as well as its disease and disorder fighting properties coffee may be just the super-juice you need with your daily morning meal. When you say you need your morning, you now have a whole new (and beneficial) set of reasons to place behind that statement.

Remember if you suffer from high blood pressure, anxiety, or have an over active thyroid you may want to check with your doctor before drinking coffee. In addition, if you have trouble sleeping it’s best to avoid caffeine consumption at least 4 hours before bedtime.

Coffee is surrounded by all kinds of lore - some of it is myth, some of it is fact, and some is just plain fun. Enjoy your next cup of Joe!