BY the Editorial Staff of www.teamworld.it – Every morning, hundreds of thousands of people have breakfast and drink coffee. This beverage is widely associated with waking up, energy, and, especially in Italy, socializing.
How many times has having a coffee together simply been an excuse to spend time, chat, and enjoy moments with friends and family? Yet, we know little or nothing about this exceptional beverage. So, let’s explore a bit of the history and curiosities of coffee.
Origin of coffee: where does this plant come from?
The origin of coffee and its name is lost in the mists of time. According to many, the name coffee comes from Kaffa (or Caffa), the region of Ethiopia where the plant was discovered. Others believe the name derives from qahwah, the Arabic drink extracted from certain seeds that had a stimulating effect.
Whatever the origin of the name, we know the plant is native to the Horn of Africa and from there initially spread to the Arabian Peninsula. With colonialism, the coffee plant practically migrated all over the world, reaching Asia and South America as well. Today it is cultivated in its various varieties wherever the climate allows. But how many types of coffee are there, and which is the most expensive?
The varieties of coffee, where it is produced, and who consumes the most
Around 60 varieties of the coffee plant have been identified worldwide, each with slightly different characteristics, aromas, and flavors. However, for reasons of resistance and productivity, only 4 are most commonly cultivated and marketed. In particular, the 4 plants we most frequently find on the market are:
- Arabica;
- Liberica;
- Robusta;
- Excelsa.
The first two, as their names suggest, were discovered and are still cultivated in the Arabian Peninsula and Liberia. Robusta, on the other hand, was discovered in Congo, while Excelsa is typical of Sierra Leone and Vietnam.
The largest coffee producer in the world is Brazil, followed by Vietnam and Colombia, while the country with the highest per capita coffee consumption is Finland. Each Finn consumes an average of 12 kilos of coffee per year, while Norwegians consume nearly 10 kilos and Icelanders 9. Italians rank only thirteenth, with nearly 6 kilos of coffee per capita.
But what is the most renowned and expensive coffee?
The Kopi Luwak
The most expensive coffee currently is the Kopi Luwak from Indonesia. In the local language, Kopi means coffee, while Luwak is the name of a rodent that feeds, among other things, on the fruits of the coffee plant. However, this animal is unable to digest the coffee beans, so after partial digestion, it expels them (technically, it defecates them).
Yes, the most expensive coffee in the world comes from this animal’s feces. According to experts, this partial digestion of the coffee bean gives it a unique flavor. One kilo of Kopi Luwak can cost between 300 and 600 euros, while a single cup of this coffee can cost up to fifty euros, depending on how trendy the bar serving it is.
The Italian espresso, decaffeinated coffee, and other curiosities
If Italy is neither a coffee producer nor one of the largest consumers, then why do we consider coffee a true national beverage, with Naples (and not only) famous for its coffee? The answer is very simple: Italians invented the espresso.
Specifically, at the end of the 19th century, an inventor and entrepreneur from Turin, Angelo Moriondo, invented and patented the first machine to produce espresso coffee. Moriondo then used it in his own bars, never dedicating himself to its commercialization, which is why he is little known for this invention. However, from those first prototypes came the espresso machines we now see in all Italian bars. Decaffeinated coffee, on the other hand, is not an Italian invention but a German one. Ludwig Roselius, from Bremen, was the first to successfully remove caffeine from coffee beans through a chemical process.
The caffè sospeso
A final curiosity regarding this beverage is the caffè sospeso, an ancient Neapolitan tradition. Basically, this custom is based on the idea that everyone, even the poorest, should have the right to a coffee. For this reason, it was customary (and in some bars, it is still possible) to order a caffè sospeso, meaning paying for two coffees but receiving only one. The other coffee was then given free of charge to anyone who came into the bar asking if there was a caffè sospeso available.
The largest coffee producer in the world is Brazil, followed by Vietnam and Colombia, while the country with the highest per capita coffee consumption is Finland. Each Finn consumes an average of 12 kilos of coffee per year, while Norwegians consume nearly 10 kilos and Icelanders 9. Italians rank only thirteenth, with nearly 6 kilos of coffee per capita.
2017
