5 Interesting Facts You Probably Didn't Know About Coffee

For connoisseurs, coffee is more than a way to kick start your day. But do you know your coffea arabica from your coffea canephora? Learn some interesting new facts about your favourite beverage from the luxury coffee making experts at Barista & Co.

1 Coffee Is A Fruit

Coffea canephora is a flowering plant originating from Africa. Its cherry fruit takes about 10 months to ripen and form coffee beans. The coffee bean is a seed of the coffee fruit. But we’re not sure if this counts towards one of your five a day…   

2 Espresso Has Less Caffeine Than Brewed Coffee

Most people drink espresso for the a great-tasting, quick caffeine hit. As the flavour of an espresso is very strong, it is commonly believed that espresso has a much higher caffeine content than normal coffee. But in fact, drip coffee has larger concentrations of caffeine than espresso. Plus, the beverage size is much larger, meaning there is up to 90mg more caffeine in a drip brewed coffee than your espresso cup! Looking for an easy-to-use pour over coffee dripper? View our pour over coffee makers here.

3 Who Is Joe?

Coffee is a drink of many names. ‘Java’, ‘cuppa’, ‘bean juice’. One of the most common names is ‘cup of Joe’ – but who is Joe? The truth is, no one really knows. Many believe that ‘Joe’ refers to American G.I Joes, who drank coffee as a refreshing drink during war time. Some believe the term was named after Navy Secretary Josephus Daniels, who substituted coffee for alcohol on warships during World War I. Another thought is that ‘cuppa Joe’ is a re-interpretation of the term ‘jamoke’ or ‘cup of jamoke’. We’ll let you make up your own mind.

4 Coffee Was Discovered By A Goat Herder

Coffee legend tells the tale of Kaldi the goat herder in Ethiopia in A.D 850. His goats were sprightly and lively after snacking on coffee tree berries. Kaldi took the issue to the nearest monastery and a curious priest brewed the berries to understand what was causing this effect – and so, the first coffee was brewed! If you want a quicker and easier way to brew your coffee, try our innovative Brew It Stick coffee infuser.

5 The World’s Most Expensive Coffee

The most expensive coffee is called Kopi luwak. It is sold in the US at $700 (£554) per kilogram and sells for about £27 - £80 per cup. But this eye-watering price tag is not because of its exquisite taste. Kopi luwak is made from coffee beans that have been eaten and excreted by civet cats in Indonesia.

Why? The digestion process is thought to add a fermentation process which enhances the coffee flavour. If expensive cat-poop coffee isn’t your thing, try our delicious Central American coarse ground coffee instead.

Want to know more about speciality coffee? Discover the world of coffee making with our Brew It Stick, on-trend French press or pour over coffee makers. We design and create professional coffee tools and coffee gifts for the home barista. Get in touch today on 01202 619 500 or at hello@baristaandco.com.