10 Coffee Facts
October 1 is official Coffee Day - reason enough to take a closer look at the hot beans over a delicious cup of coffee. In Germany, Coffee Day was launched in 2006 by the German Coffee Association. Since then, every year on this date, there have been calls to celebrate the popular drink, to focus on it with numerous activities and to share recipes and favorite variations.
Coffee is more than just a drink – it is a global phenomenon that connects people all over the world. Whether as a pick-me-up in the morning, as a companion in social gatherings or as a moment of pleasure in between – coffee has a firm place in many cultures. Behind every cup, there are fascinating stories and interesting facts that shed light on the centuries-old tradition and cultural significance of the drink. In this article, you will learn ten exciting facts about coffee that will bring you closer to the diverse world of coffee and may even surprise you.
By the way: not every country has National Coffee Day on this day – it varies from country to country. In Germany, however, it coincides with the overarching International Coffee Day, which was also proclaimed for 1 October by the International Coffee Organization in 2015.
We have picked out a few exciting, interesting and sometimes surprising facts about the treasured beans for you – here we go:
1. Coffee consumption
Do you like drinking coffee? So do we! Coffee is and remains the most popular drink in Germany. With 169 liters consumed per capita per year, we rank 8th in the world. The leader with 262 liters per capita consumption per year is Finland. That’s an average of 720 ml a day.
Some Finns call coffee their national drink and have numerous reasons for their above-average consumption: the cold temperatures, the dark winter months, or the fact that coffee is at the center of every social interaction. Taking a coffee break twice a day is even an employee right in Finland.
(Source: Deutscher Kaffeeverband/finntastic.de)
2. Coffee beans
Coffee is actually a cherry. It grows on coffee trees and bushes that bear red fruit. The fruits, each of which bears two seeds, are very similar to our cherries. They are also edible and have a sweet-tart taste.
However, as the seeds of the fruit – the coffee beans – are much more popular, the cherry as a fruit is left behind and is rarely found as a fruit on the shelves.
(Source: funk / kaffee-partner.de/Deutscher Kaffeeverband)
3. Coffee plants
Coffee plants are sensitive plants. They need a very balanced climate with average temperatures between 15 and 26°C and very high humidity. This is why they only grow in countries around the equator – in the so-called “coffee belt”.
(Source: German Coffee Association)
4. The different types of coffee
Only two types of coffee are economically significant: Arabica and Robusta. 100% Arabica is a well-known advertising argument for the most popular bean.
The Arabica bean is the most widespread variety, accounting for 61% of global production. It has a broad and more complex taste spectrum with fruity notes and acidity.
Robusta coffee is in second place with a 39% share, is stronger, contains more caffeine and, with its strong character, is used for espresso, for example.
Although there are well over 100 more types of coffee, these only account for less than 1%. Green coffee is the most traded commodity in the world after crude oil.
(Source: German Coffee Association)
5. The most expensive bean in the world
You’ve probably heard of the so-called “cat coffee”, right? It’s the most expensive coffee in the world. What makes it so special? The coffee beans first have to pass through the digestive tract of the Indonesian Kopi Luwak cats before they are roasted and brewed. So, are you still craving this specialty? The coffee is available for 1000 € per kilo.
But beware: unfortunately, production is increasingly associated with very poor animal husbandry. So find out in advance whether and where you can buy this variety.
(Source: funk)
6. Waste from to-go cups
Unfortunately, a lot of waste is still produced when coffee is consumed. As convenient as coffee to-go is, in many cases it is served in disposable cups. In Germany, around 320,000 of these disposable cups are used for hot drinks every hour. We agree: this figure must fall!
(Source: BMUV)
7. Coffee and health
Do you eat a calorie-conscious diet? No problem: coffee is a calorie saver. With its 2-4 kcal per cup, you could almost call it a sports drink. Of course, this only applies as long as you don’t add milk, sugar or syrups. We say: drink your coffee the way you like it – calories or not.
8. The caffeine content
It’s not without reason that you reach for coffee when you need a pick-me-up. Caffeine is probably the best-known ingredient in the drink. This is because it increases alertness and concentration, has a stimulating effect and increases mental and physical performance. For comparison: a cup of black filter coffee (150 ml) has about as much caffeine as an average energy drink (250 ml). An espresso (50 ml) often contains even more.
(Source: German Coffee Association)
Caffeine content:
Filter coffee (150 ml) 50-100 mg
Espresso (50 ml) 50-150 mg
Energy drinks (250 ml) approx. 80 mg
9. Variety of coffee types
The variety of coffee drinks and their preparation is almost limitless. It can be enjoyed as individually as the coffee lover himself – hot, cold, blended, stirred, brewed, pressed or dissolved. However, the most popular of them all is still the good old filter coffee. Old school? Pustekusten!
(Source: Coffee Report 2022)
