Coffee has an important role to play in many communities and it is one of the most consumed drinks in the world. It was used in religious ceremonies in certain communities in Africa and Yemen. This addictive "stimulant" is made from roasted coffee beans and taken while it's still hot. Some individual prefer to have their coffee cold or with added extras like milk, creamer and even with a dash of chocolate or a stick of cinnamon. It all depends on how creative the coffee drinker is.

The Origin Of Coffee

Coffee was believed to have been discovered in Ethiopia somewhere around the 9th century. A shepherd named Kaldi accidentally discovered a strange berry while tending to his goat. He noticed the extra energy his goats had after munching a bunch of these berries. He took a handful of these and handed them to the priests in a neighboring convent. They eventually decided to boil the berries and after drinking found and extra boost of energy.

Eventually the beverage starts to spread to other areas in the region. By the 15th century, it had spread to Egypt, Yemen and finally Turkey, Persia and parts of Africa.

Coffee was finally introduced into Europe by the Dutch in 1690 when it was smuggled out of the Arabian land. Before landing in Europe, it was cultivated by the Dutch in Mauritius, Sri Lanka, India and the island of Java in Indonesia. It was later introduced into the Caribbean and spread all the way to American Latin.

Major Coffee Species

There are two main species of coffee which is commercially cultivated. It is the Coffea Arabica Linnaeus, which is commonly called Arabica and Coffea canephora, which is called Robusta. The Arabica variety is more popular and has a good taste and aroma compared to Robusta which is bitter. Other lesser known species is the Coffea Liberica and Coffea Esliaca which is native to Liberia and Sudan respectively.

Roasting The Coffee Beans

Before you can make beverages, you need to roast the green coffee beans. It is roasted until the coffee beans turns dark due to caramelized sucrose. When there is no more water in the beans, the sugar and acid will release its aroma.

After the coffee beans have undergone the roasting process, they are ground to fine powder form. Grinding is done usually at a roastery or in a grocery store. Some people prefer to grind their beans themselves in the comfort of their own home. The final coffee powder can be stored in air-tight container for later brewing.

Conclusion

In modern societies, coffee is now available as instant coffee granules. It will quickly dissolve in water making coffee preparation a breeze. Canned coffee is also available especially in Asia. It is very popular in Japan and South Korea and can be dispensed using the vending machine.

Return to Black Coffee Beans Index