| Whether you call it java, mud or a shot in the | | | | The coffee bean was introduced to Europe during |
| arm, an estimated 2 billion cups are consumed | | | | the 17th century. At one point, the beverage was |
| every day around the world - making coffee the | | | | more popular than tea in England and was used as |
| most popular drink in the world. Coffee today is | | | | an antidote to the widespread alcoholism of the |
| produced in over 50 countries and is the second | | | | time. Coffee houses sprang up in such places as |
| most valuable export after oil. And to many of us | | | | Vienna, Paris and London, frequented by the |
| - it's simply what we need to get us started in | | | | wealthy and fashionable. The Austrians are |
| the morning. | | | | credited with the practice of adding milk and sugar |
| Coffee is older than most people think - | | | | to coffee. |
| archaeological evidence suggests that humans | | | | In France, Louis XIV built greenhouses to protect |
| were enjoying the taste of the coffee berry | | | | his precious coffee beans from frost. And in the |
| around a hundred thousand years ago. One legend | | | | New World, coffee was also a popular drink - the |
| has it that a goat herder in Ethiopia observed his | | | | newly formed American colonies declared coffee |
| goats eating coffee berries and he decided to | | | | to be the national drink. Not everybody approved; |
| taste them himself - noting the stimulating effect. | | | | the Catholics declared coffee should be banned - |
| Shepherds consumed the coffee by grounding the | | | | despite the Pope confessing to being an avid |
| beans and mixing them with animal fat. | | | | coffee drinker. |
| By around 600 AD, the coffee bean had made its | | | | Today, there are actually more than 60 varieties |
| way to what is now the country of Yemen, | | | | of coffee in the world, although the beans used |
| where it has been cultivated ever since. From | | | | for coffee are one of two types - Robusta and |
| 1000 AD, Arabian traders grew and cultivated the | | | | Arabica. Around 75% of coffee beans produced |
| coffee bean on plantations - they called their new | | | | are Arabica and are cultivated in Brazil and Central |
| concoction qahwa meaning "that which prevents | | | | America. Robusta beans produce a stronger blend |
| sleep". Arabia controlled the coffee trade for | | | | of coffee and are cultivated in parts of Asia and |
| many centuries as they introduced a law that | | | | Africa as well as Brazil. |
| prohibited the exporting of beans that could | | | | Chances are high that your coffee beans come |
| germinate. | | | | from Brazil, the world's largest producer of |
| Despite this restriction, the coffee bean somehow | | | | coffee. Brazil produces almost 30% of the world's |
| found its way throughout the Middle East - to | | | | coffee and also has some of the most advanced |
| Persia (now Iran), Egypt and parts of Northern | | | | processing techniques in the world. In 2006, the |
| Africa. Coffee beans also found their way to the | | | | gross value of coffee production in Brazil was |
| Mysore area of India - where descendants of | | | | almost 5 billion dollars and the industry employs |
| those original plants flourished until the early 20th | | | | several million workers. |
| century. In many cases, the beans were literally | | | | Coffee isn't usually associated with Asia, but |
| smuggled out of Arabia. | | | | several Asian countries have started to cultivate |
| At first, coffee was not enjoyed for its taste, | | | | the coffee bean. In recent years, Vietnam has |
| but more as a supplement or source of nutrition. | | | | become a large producer and some of the |
| When the coffee bean found its way to Turkey, | | | | African coffee producing countries still produce |
| the Turks began to drink it for its flavor - | | | | excellent coffee - in particular Kenya and Tanzania |
| frequently adding such things as cinnamon or | | | | Some countries have also started to cultivate |
| anise. The Turks were also the first to roast the | | | | specialized coffee beans - Kenya produces a |
| beans over fires and boil the crushed beans in | | | | fruity coffee and Indonesia produces the Kopi |
| water. And what is generally considered to be the | | | | Luwak - a coffee bean that has been passed |
| world's first coffee shop was opened in Istanbul - | | | | through the digestive system of a civet. And |
| known as Constantinople at the time - in the 15th | | | | Ethiopia - where the coffee bean was perhaps |
| century. | | | | first discovered - is home to a bean that |
| The Dutch were the first to transport and | | | | produces a coffee flavored with chocolate, ginger |
| cultivate coffee beans on a commercial basis. | | | | and orange. |
| With coffee beans smuggled out of Arabia, they | | | | So whether you prefer your coffee beans with |
| established plantations in Ceylon and one of their | | | | milk, with sugar, strong or with no caffeine - take |
| colonies - Java. Today, Indonesia is the world's | | | | a moment and enjoy a cup of the world's most |
| third largest producer of coffee. | | | | popular drink. |