Coffee (by 1470) is the most common hot drink in the world. Like tea, it is dark brown to black in colour and bitter in taste. Unlike tea, it has more caffeine, the stuff in it that makes you feel awake. It has enough caffeine to get you hooked.
The coffee plant (mainly Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora) comes from Kaffa in Ethiopia, where it has been grown for thousands of years. It did not become the drink that we know till the 1400s in nearby Yemen. The drink spread from its port of Mocha throughout much of the Muslim world in the 1500s and the West in the 1600s.
Drinkers: The US, because of its size, drinks more coffee than any other nation. But the world’s heaviest coffee drinkers are in northern Europe, where people drink two to four times more coffee per person than Americans.
Coffee or tea? Countries that prefer tea include China, India, Russia, Britain, Ireland, South Africa, Morocco, Turkey and Egypt. In Japan and New Zealand, coffee and tea are tied.
Growers: In the 1700s the Dutch began growing coffee in Java. It was not as good as the coffee from Mocha, but it was cheaper. The Caribbean and Brazil also began growing coffee in the 1700s. Today countries throughout the tropics grow coffee.
Brazil: The lands north of Rio and Sao Paulo became a huge coffee-growing region in the 1800s and 1900s, drawing in first slaves from north-eastern Brazil and Africa (mainly Angola, Mozambique), and then, after slavery was outlawed, immigrants from Japan and Europe (mainly Portugal, Spain, Italy, Germany). Brazil still produces a third of the world’s coffee.
The economics of a Starbucks Cappuccino Grande: where the $3.65 (in 2014) goes:
- $1.31 rent, shop overhead
- $1.10 labour (barista)
- $0.60 profit
- $0.32 cup, stirrer, lid
- $0.16 milk (317 ml)
- $0.16 coffee (156 ml)
The cup costs more than the coffee itself! Of those 16 cents for the coffee, only 1 cent goes to the coffee farmer, the rest goes to middlemen. In Ethiopia, a coffee farmer makes about 6 cents (= 0.1 g of silver) an hour.
In English one of the first accounts of coffee appeared in 1610:
“although [Egypt and Palestine] be destitute of Taverns, yet have they their Coffa-houses, which something resembles them. There they sit chatting most of the day; and sippe of a drinke called Coffa (of the berry that it is made of) in little China dishes, as hot as they can suffer it; blacke as soote, and tasting not unlike it.”
Coffee houses soon spread to Britain. The first one opened in 1650 in Oxford. They became the Internet of 1600s and 1700s: a place to waste time, spread rumours, get news and mail, speak freely and exchange ideas. They advanced science, literature and trade by bringing together scientists, poets and shipowners. They gave rise to Lloyd’s of London, the London Stock Exchange, Isaac Newton’s “Principia” (1687) and Adam Smith’s “The Wealth of Nations” (1776). In France and America, they became the birthplace of revolutions.
Coffee-shop writers: James Baldwin, Hemingway, Adam Smith, Diderot, Malcolm Gladwell, J.K. Rowling.
– Abagond, 2016.
Sources: mainly Coffee Makers USA (2014); Huffington Post; “A History of the World in 6 Glasses” (2005) by Tom Standage; “Africans in the Americas” (1994) by Michael L. Conniff and Thomas J. Davis; “The Structures of Everyday Life” (1981) by Fernand Braudel; “The Open Veins of Latin America” (1973) by Eduardo Galeano.
See also:
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Meh, I’m not much of a coffee, tea drinker. I drink both of the hot beverages, once in a blue moon. I have nothing against them, being i actually enjoy the taste of them, when enjoying them.
Unlike most people in the world, when it comes to addictive substances, i can consume it and never drink it again for months or years.
Same goes for alcohol, i don’t drink it very often and when i do, its just for social purposes, not out of the want or need.
I have nothing against alcohol, either.
I simply don’t have an addictive urge to drink these addictive beverages.
I wish i knew, why i don’t get hooked on these addictive beverages like other people do. @ : o l ) >
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I see that you too have been watching Luke Cage.
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@Shango
I like your name. Does it have a special meaning?
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Starbucks is so overrated.
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@Afrofem: I remember reading about African deities that Shango was a Yoruba deity. He was one of the Orishas The Thunder deity.
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There was a brand that I loved called Jamaica Blue Mountain. I can’t seen to find it.
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@ Mary
Blue Mountain coffee is mostly sold in Japan.
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@Abagond: Well I guess that would explain why I can’t find it. I received some as a gift and loved it.
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@Mary Burrell
Thanks!
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I have a triple shot soy venti latte everymorning.
For awhile I avoided Starbucks because the CEO is Zionist and a strong supporter of Israeli aparthied/genocide. But I got lazy and went back to my routine.
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I have seen Blue Mountain in Southern California. Trader Joes sells it.
http://drinks.seriouseats.com/2014/01/worst-and-best-coffee-at-trader-joes-which-coffee-to-buy-tj.html
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So when did ‘cocaine’ metaphorically become America’s cup of coffee?
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Wow I always assumed sbux was making way more profit than that. All about volume I guess. I spend like 600$ a year at sbux. Really great product, I gotta say. The frappucinos are only half of what I like – it’s also the place to chill and relax they provide. The two together are totally worth my $5.25 per visit. Ugh $$$ lol.
Oh, and for the love of God folks vote for Clinton. It’s the only way Trump doesn’t become president. It’s on you. That’s math. Swallow the cough syrup otherwise you get cyanide. Your precious sensibilities will have to wait till 2020 to indulge.
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“Oh, and for the love of God folks vote for Clinton. It’s the only way Trump doesn’t become president.”
Hey Hark,
While it’s true that Trump is likely a danger to the U.S., it’s even more likely that the Clintons are a danger to the whole world, given their criminal resumes.
Hillary’s insatiable appetite for greater personal wealth and power OVER the people instead of what’s good for the citizens of the US is likely to cause a misstep that will bring mankind to the brink of extinction – because that’s what sociopathic megalomaniacs (like the Clintons) do. They put their (and their friends in high places) personal desires ahead of what is good for the nation.
They also rig elections because there are no longer verifiable paper trails in ALL voting precincts with the influx of unverifiable Diebold programmable voting machines.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwim1quMjMvPAhUEJh4KHRZFAbQQFgghMAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.usenix.org%2Flegacyurl%2Fsecurity-analysis-diebold-accuvote-ts-voting-machine-0&usg=AFQjCNHcWqGrVZNG1lyG01ovqdQxQ2uF3w
Selected not Elected – Rothschilds Hold $100,000 a Plate Dinner Fundraiser for Guess Who
http://www.blacklistednews.com/Selected_not_Elected_%E2%80%93_Rothschilds_Hold_%24100%2C000_a_Plate_Dinner_Fundraiser_for_Guess_Who/54546/0/38/38/Y/M.html
Malcolm’s admonishment about being had, hoodwinked and bamboozled stands out even more today than ever before. With all the coffee Amerikans consume, you’d think there wouldn’t be so many of them asleep on their feet. Oh well. That’s the way the COOKIE crumbles, as an older family member used to say.
Abagond – my apologies for going off topic. Just wanted to respond to newbie Hark’s comment … Of course you may delete this if you wish. But at least I tied it back to coffee. 🙂
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” Your precious sensibilities will have to wait till 2020 to indulge.”
Your precious sensibilities will be waiting forever. As long as the Reps keep putting up frothing at the mouth monsters like Trump, McCain and Romney you’ll be voting Democrat; no matter how abysmal the candidate is. In 2020, after the start of WW3, if the US is still allowing you to vote, the Reps will put up a monster that makes Trump look like a choir boy. You are on a lesser evil highway to Hell.
Stop Trump? Stop Clinton.
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OFF TOPIC: politics, except as it relates to coffee (trade policy, etc).
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Off topic? Just responding to Hark’s also off topic comment. Lessee, coffee, coffee coffee? I like what Fan said.
“With all the coffee Amerikans consume, you’d think there wouldn’t be so many of them asleep on their feet. “
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Wish life was simple! Here’s something more on coffee:
What is the difference between arabica and robusta?
Mon, 2006-01-16 20:51 — Daniel Owen
Arabica beans and robusta beans are two different species of coffee grown commercially for consumption as coffee. The general differences are those of taste, the conditions under which the two species grow and economic differences.
Taste: Arabicas have a wider taste range, between varieties. They range in taste from sweet-soft to sharp-tangy. Their unroasted smell is sometimes likened to blueberries. Their roasted smell is perfumey with fruity notes and sugary tones.
Robustas taste range is neutral to harsh and they are often described as tasting grain-like, oatmeally. Burnt tires is the description that I personally find most accurate. Their unroasted smell is often described as raw-peanutty. There are high quality robustas on the market but they are rare and reserved exclusively for the best robusta containing espressos.
Production Conditions: Arabicas are delicate, they require cool subtropical climates, lots of moisture, rich soil, shade and sun. They are subject to attack from various pests, and are extremely vulnerable to cold and bad handling. Arabicas also must be grown at a higher elevation of 600 to 2000 meters.
Robustas are hardier plants, capable of growing well at low altitudes of 200 to 800 meters, they are also less subject to problems related to pests and rough handling. They yield more pounds of finished goods per acre at a lower cost of production.
Economics: Customs and trade, supply and demand over the course of the last 150 years has determined the relative values of arabica vs. robusta beans. Generally speaking, the best coffees are all arabicas and the highest quality blends are pure arabica blends. They are also the priciest.
In the U.S. you will generally find arabicas in the coffee store and specialty food shop, and robustas in the supermarket cans. Jars of instant are almost exclusively robusta.
In Italy, home of espresso, the very highest quality brands are pure arabica, and like here, the popular-priced goods are blended with robusta beans. Because “Imported from Italy” can make an ordinary supermarket quality Italian espresso a “gourmet” coffee in the U.S., you will find robustas in some Italian brands offered for sale in the United States.
The coffee you like is a very personal thing. You may find that you really prefer the all-arabica blends, or you may feel comfortable with something less, just because you like it. That’s OK. The American marketplace, thanks to the Specialty Coffee movement here, is now rich enough in roast types, species, varieties, blends, brews, grinds, and price points to have something for every taste and pocketbook.
It should be noted that a low quality arabica bean cupped next to a high quality robusta will probably be the inferior bean. So, don’t get too caught up in the arabica versus robusta argument. Many great espresso blends use robusta for it’s strength and crema.
I should also mention that Arabica does not equal quality. Over seventy percent of the coffee grown throughout the world is arabica. Much of it is garbage so do not assume that just because you are buying arabica you are getting a quality coffee.
One other side note that must be mentioned is that Robusta has approximately twice as much caffeine as Arabica. This may be an issue for some people when choosing their coffee.
https://coffeefaq.com/site/node/29
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I’m sitting here drinking a crappy cup of coffee as I read this. Coincidence?
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@michaeljonbarker: I loved the coffee and as I stated it was a gift. Thanks for the link $19.00 is a bit pricey for me.
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@Herneith
In India much of the coffee is mixed with chickory – something that began during the scarcities during WWII. Quite crappy. The world price of coffee can fluctuate wildly depending even on conflicts and the Coffee Berry Disease. In India, however, it usually fluctuates upwards.I wish Abagond would do a post on the cost of living in the world ……
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I actually prefer chicory over coffee. Weird, I know.
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“Coffee (by 1470) is the most common hot drink in the world.”
Nope. Tea is, by far, more common.
http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2013/12/20/chart-of-the-week-coffee-and-tea-around-the-world/
“Although more green coffee is produced globally than tea — 8.5 million metric tons versus 4.7 million metric tons of tea in 2011, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization — it takes only about two grams of tea to make a cup, compared with 10 grams of coffee. As a result, as British geographer David Grigg wrote, worldwide “three cups of tea are drunk for every one of coffee.””
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@Solitaire: That chicory is hella wicked I was unable to do that one.
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Coffee or bust!
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I watched an episode of CBS Sunday Morning on coffee different types of coffee around the world. A certain kind of animal that looks like it belongs to a certain species of feline called a civet in Indonesia where they extract coffee beans from it’s feces and it’s one of the most expensive coffees in the world. I found that rather interesting and a little unsettling at the same time.
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“A certain kind of animal that looks like it belongs to a certain species of feline called a civet in Indonesia where they extract coffee beans from it’s feces and it’s one of the most expensive coffees in the world. I found that rather interesting and a little unsettling at the same time.”
@Mary
I’ve always preferred hot chocolate to coffee. Perhaps the civet thing is part of the reason why!
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@Fan: Hot chocolate is my next favorite beverage during Winter months as well as trying different teas. But learning about coffee beans being extracted from animal feces makes me wonder where my coffee came from.☕️☕️☕️☕️
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@ Mary Burrell
I don’t usually drink chicory straight but blended with other herbs, like this tea:
http://www.celestialseasonings.com/products/herbal/roastaroma-herbal-tea
That may make the difference?
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I love a good cup of tea myself. English breakfast with milk no sugar. I do drink coffee though. I go regularly to The Coffee Cup in Hampstead, it is Londons oldest existing coffee shop.
In England we (rightly) believe that a good strong cup of tea can cure any problem. When Armageddon happens you will find us all in out kitchens brewing up! We will be fine!
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The Costa foundation;
‘The Costa Foundation is an independant charity that aims to relieve poverty in coffee-growing communities.’ …
( note how they write about themselves in third person so it appears as if written by an outside person.)
http://www.costa.co.uk/responsibility/costa-foundation/
This is code for; We don’t pay our workers a living wage so they can’t think of educating their children, infact, they can just about feed them. So we have a charity you all can give your money to so we can build schools and make our corporation look like it actually gives a f uck!
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^^^ Workers = growers
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@Solitaire
You can stock up from here:
https://wisechoiceuk.com/product/camp-coffee-and-chicory-essence-case/
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@ JDLC and Solitaire
OMG.. the price of it! I remember as a kid in the 70’s that was the cheap stuff my Mum and all her mates drank. I never see it anymore.
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Very informative and professional post about coffee.
Me personally I never liked it and still Don’t ,tea taste better to me and has more variety, chocolate milk is preferable although I Don’t generally like milk ether but the chocolate flavor has appeal to me.
I also think there might be a some type of correlation between white peoples exessive focus on blackness and maybe a kind of fetish but as yet my scientific knowledge is not good enough to formulate the correct questions, conduct the approiate experiment or study to contribute to finding out the truth.
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Lol Mbeti… I really don’t think there’s any black fetish with coffee or tea. They are both just enjoyable hot drinks. Sometimes something just is. x
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@ Zoe Jordan – the price quoted is for a carton of it. A dozen or two bottles? Tried it once. Yuck!
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@ JDLC
I appreciate the link but I’m not a coffee person at all. Coffee smells wonderful but I’ve never developed a taste for it.
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i have some brewing now!
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Hey v8 driver! Glad to see you back!
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