Saying that coffee is a popular beverage is an understatement. Coffee has become so prevalent that we don't even think twice about where it comes from or what the potential health benefits are - or even how popular it actually is. It seems that every day there's new research about the effects of coffee and there's a new way to brew or drink it. So here are twelve facts about coffee that may surprise you.
1. Coffee is the second most-traded commodity in the world.
According to the Global Exchange, there are roughly 25 million farmers and workers producing coffee in 50 countries around the world. The most-traded commodity is oil.
2. Brazil is the world’s largest producer of coffee.
Brazil produces around 40% of the world’s coffee, according to Good Housekeeping. The second and third-largest producers are Colombia and Vietnam.
3. Coffee beans are actually seeds.
Coffee beans are the pits of red berries which resemble cherries. They're called beans because they look more like beans than seeds.
4. Starbucks coffee has more caffeine than energy drinks.
According to Time, energy drinks contain more caffeine than sodas and tea, but less than coffee. Most coffee drinks at Starbucks contain less caffeine than a can of Red Bull. The amount of caffeine in 16-ounce Monsters and Rockstars is approximately half of the caffeine content of a grande-sized drip coffee.
5. 64% of American adults drink at least one cup of coffee every day.
According to a Gallup poll, coffee drinkers consume an average of 2.7 cups of coffee a day. In addition, around 2.25 million cups of coffee are consumed around the world daily.
6. American coffee consumption is lower now than it was in the 1950s.
According to Time, coffee consumption in the US was at its highest soon after World War II, but then fell, while soft drinks became increasingly popular.
7. Light roast actually contains more caffeine than dark roast.
Roasting burns away some of the caffeine, according to NPR, although dark roasts have a stronger flavor.
8. Coffee is a popular source of anti-oxidants.
A study done by the University of Scranton in 2005 found that coffee is the largest source of anti-oxidants in the U.S. diet. Antioxidants have a wide range of health benefits, including preventing against cancer and heart disease.
9. Coffee can lower your risk of disease.
A Harvard School of Public Health study found that drinking four or more cups of coffee a day can lower the risk of heart attacks, strokes, neurological diseases and Type 2 diabetes, according to the Los Angeles Times. In addition, drinking coffee is said to lower the risk of liver cancer by 50 percent. There is evidence that coffee may prevent other forms of cancer as well.
10. Coffee can help you live longer.
One study found that drinking at least one cup of coffee a day can reduce the risk of dying from a lifestyle-related health issue.
11. Coffee may be able to increase happiness while decreasing depression and the risk of suicide.
People who drink four or more cups of coffee a day are 10 percent less likely to be depressed than those who don't, Huffington Post reports. In addition, according to a study conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health, drinking two to four cups of caffeinated coffee a day can cut the risk of suicide in half. This is because caffeine can act as a mild antidepressant, increasing the production of certain neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin, and noradrenaline.
12. The concept of “suspended” or "pending" coffee originated in Naples.
The story, which became popular on social media, is that at certain restaurants and cafes, people pay for extra cups of coffee, for example, buying three cups of coffee but only drinking one. The additional cups of coffee which are not consumed are given to those who can't afford it, who later come in and ask if there are any suspended cups of coffee. The tradition gained popularity in World War II but has recently become widespread due to hard economic conditions, reaching 21 countries, including Japan, Sweden, Romania and Australia, and has expanded to include pizza, sandwiches and even books.
