1. Coffee beans are the seed from the cherry of the Coffea tree, and through breeding, various coffee plants take on distinctive characteristics such as flavor, body, and acidity. The growing environment, processing, and genetics of the plants determine taste.
2. Consumption of coffee dates back to 9th-century Ethiopia. The coffee bean was introduced to Egyptian, Turkish, and North African cultures by the 15th century, and from there it spread to Italy and the rest of Europe, and finally to the United States.
3. Coffee berries are picked, the flesh around the beans is removed, and the beans inside are dried. These seeds/beans are roasted to light, medium, and dark brown at temperatures of almost 400 degrees, which caramelizes the sugars in the beans and develops the flavor.
4. In its history, coffee has been used in African religious ceremonies and was part of a political rebellion in Europe. In the 21st century, coffee is one of the world's largest commodities, with almost 7 million tons of processed beans produced each year.
5. There is no coffee that is 100 percent decaffeinated; even decaf coffee has 3 milligrams of caffeine. Instant coffee has the lowest caffeine content (about 65 mg); a cup of drip-brewed coffee has approximately 115 mg of caffeine, while espresso has only 80 mg of caffeine.
6. The production of organic coffee relies on a system that maintains soil fertility and reduces the use of toxic or persistent fertilizers and pesticides. To be certified organic, coffee must be produced within the guidelines accredited by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
7. Organic coffee is grown in at least 40 countries. It is estimated that in 2007, more than 65 million pounds of organic coffee (retail sales of almost $620 million) were imported to the United States.
8. Green coffee beans are raw, unroasted beans that process into a rich gourmet coffee or espresso. Green coffee beans should be fairly uniform in size to ensure that the beans roast evenly, and uneven coloring may be an indication of a drying problem.
9. For many Americans, coffee is their daily fuel consumption; more than half of Americans drink coffee daily, and some average 4 cups per day. Americans consume almost 340 million cups of coffee each day.
10. Coffee pods are single-cup servings of premium coffee, blends, espressos, cappuccinos, and more. Single-cup coffee makers and convenient coffee pods are the hottest specialty items to hit the nation, with a market offering coffee consumers over 60 varieties.
