Coffee is a caffeine-rich beverage that has become one of the world’s most popular drinks. In fact, Americans drink an average of three cups of coffee a day. It is also a rich source of antioxidants, potassium and magnesium. These nutrients help to reduce the risk of liver and Alzheimer’s disease. A cup of coffee each day may also reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. During the early years of its cultivation, coffee was used for religious and medical purposes. Today, it is one of the most widely traded commodities.
In the 15th century, wild coffee plants were brought to southern Arabia. In the 17th and 18th centuries, coffee plants were introduced into several regions of Europe and the New World. By the 20th century, coffee was the most important cash crop in the Western Hemisphere. Coffee is most commonly grown in the ‘bean belt’ that extends from Brazil to Colombia, including the Caribbean islands.
Coffee became popular in the Middle East, North Africa, and Yemen. It was a source of income and a symbol of progress. Although it was prohibited by the Qur’an, many Muslims were attracted to it as a substitute for alcohol. However, state officials in the Middle East and Arabia proscribed it. Nevertheless, coffee was a favorite among the Arabs.
By the 19th century, coffee was produced in the Kingdom of Kaffa, Ethiopia, and the Kingdom of Harar in northeastern Ethiopia. A small amount was also exported until the 1920s. The kingdom’s annual production ranged from 50,000 to 60,000 kilograms.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, the Dutch began spreading the coffee plant in Central America and South America. It was later planted in Hawaii in 1825. From there, coffee was shipped to the Indian Ocean and the Arabian peninsula. Coffee was also cultivated in French Guyana and Jamaica.
In the early seventeenth century, coffee houses were found on every street in London. This led to the opening of the first coffee house. Later, coffeehouses were found in cities throughout the United States. Eventually, the Boston Tea Party of 1773 was planned in a coffee house.
In the early nineteenth century, the Netherlands, France, and Spain were the main importers of coffee. During the second half of the nineteenth century, industrial roasting machines were invented. Industrial roasting machines were later used to produce instant coffee. Until the 1950s, roasted coffee beans were ground manually. They are now screened through mechanical screening devices.
Coffee is a rich source of antioxidants. One study showed that people who drank at least one cup of coffee a day were able to reduce their risks of developing liver and Alzheimer’s diseases. Excessive caffeine can cause trembling and irregular heartbeat. People who are pregnant or nursing should consult their obstetrician or a health care professional before drinking coffee. Those who suffer from depression or high blood pressure may want to consider drinking decaffeinated varieties.
Coffee is also a valuable commodity for developing countries. In 2006, coffee-producing nations produced seventeen billion pounds of the beverage.
