Are you a coffee lover like us?! Sometimes, we desperately drink our morning coffee without putting any thought into where it came from. There are some fascinating stories about this plant! We thought it would be fun to share some surprising facts about coffee!
Coffee beans are technically seeds
These cherry like berries are found on small trees. We call them beans because they have a resemblance to legumes. The coffee plant is a fruit tree. The fruit starts green, and then turns red. After being picked, the skin and pulp is removed, leaving the coffee seed.
The coffee drink dates back to 800 A.D.
Okay, so the story has it that the 9th-Century goat herders noticed the effect that caffeine had on their goats. They would appear to “dance” after eating the fruit from the coffee plant. One day, a local monk made a drink from the seeds and he found that it kept him awake at night! The original cup of coffee was born.
Brazil grows the most coffee in the world
Brazil produces about a third of the worlds supply of coffee. This is twice as much as Vietnam, which is in second place behind Brazil. Eighty percent of coffee that’s from Brazil is Arabica. Brazil processes its coffee by the wet (washed), dry (natural), and semi-washed (pulped natural) methods.
Only 2 states in the U.S. produce coffee
Hawaii and California are the only two states in the U.S. that grow coffee. Coffee traditionally grows best in climates along the equator. Hawaii’s weather is optimal for harvesting beans. California has recently started commercially growing coffee as well. Are you looking for a coffee tour during your stay in Hawaii? Maui Chocolate Coffee Tours has fun and educational tours about coffee and chocolate.
Espresso means “pressed out” in Italian
Espresso is made by forcing boiling water through pressed coffee grounds. There is more caffeine per volume in espresso, than coffee. However, 3 shots of espresso are equivalent to one cup of coffee. Our coffee at Belle Surf Cafe is a South American and African blend. It is custom made for us! The specific countries of origin rotate based on seasonal availability. It’s a medium roast espresso with notes of chocolate and caramel. Hand-pulled on a La Marzocco Linea FB-80 custom espresso machine. Check out our specialty coffee drinks to see what’s on our menu! We also offer bags of our custom coffee for purchase in store and online.
Multiple people have tried to ban coffee!
Way back in 1511, leaders in Mecca (Saudi Arabia) believed that coffee stimulated radical thinking and prohibited the drink! A 16th-century Italian clergymen also tried to ban coffee because they believed it to be “satanic.” However, Pope Clement VII loved coffee so much that he lifted the ban and had coffee baptized in 1600.
Decaf does not mean caffeine free
Decaffeination removes about 97% of caffeine in the coffee beans. A normal cup of decaf coffee has about 2 mg of caffeine, whereas a regular cup of coffee has about 95 mg of caffeine! We offer decaf espresso at Belle Surf!
Did you enjoy these fun and surprising facts about coffee?! Follow us on instagram to see more of our daily life in Hawaii and at the cafe. Sign up for our newsletter to get the latest info on the menu, giveaways, blogs and more!