It is hard to believe that a humble bean could generate so many romantic tales about its origins yet also be at the heart of so much hard-headed business acumen. You can be assured that from its beginnings to its present market prowess that this aromatic, dark and pungent liquid has enriched and fascinated people from all walks the world over.
Legends abound about the origins of the coffee plant. We have found that the most constant historic information puts coffees' discovery in Ethiopia somewhere around 500 BC. From there, upon observing the stimulating effects of its berries, travelers brought it with them to Arabia, where it acquired the name.
During the age of the Renaissance, scientific thought and the arts were growing popular. It was at this time that commercial production and world wide distribution of what some labeled 'that heathenish liquid' also began. We see that by the end of the 18th century plantations along with drinking popularity had spread to Asia, The Middle East, Europe, South and North America.
History has been kind to coffee by ascribing the health effects of coffee as bordering on the miraculous. As with many acclaimed miracles, lets find the fact from the fiction. Studies have shown a reduction from cirrhosis of the liver. Asthma suffers have less sever attacks. Another study done at Harvard followed over 100,000 individuals for almost 20 years. Their conclusions were that moderate consumption of coffee can can help reduce diabetes.
While the antioxidants in coffee are being held out as helping you to keep your heart healthier, the nutrition police rage on if the pros can really outweigh the cons. Caffeine after all is a natural insecticide. Some other of the negatives against coffee are its diuretic effects that increase urination. If that is not bad enough it has been shown that stimulation from caffeine has lead to long term nerve damage in some drinkers. If you have experienced a caffeine withdrawal you know the sleeplessness and headaches it can cause.
But for good or ill - or both - coffee is here to stay. The economics alone virtually guarantee that, since as a commodity coffee is second only in dollar volume to oil. Whether traded on exchanges in London, New York, Hong Kong or Lima with over 400 billion cups consumed annually, this other 'black gold' only grows in popularity. It has been found that 63% of the world wide adults population drinks coffee occasionally, the total retail sales hovers near the $12 billion level annually.
When we add to those retail figures the number of raw beans, roasters, grinders, brewers and cups bought for the home, well those figures grow to an astounding level. With its rise as a both basic commodity as well as a specialty retail product the future for coffee businesses looks both bright and unstoppable. Not counting other vendors, Starbucks operates over 10,000 outlets world wide.
Every corner it seems has a specialty coffee shop. These, however are not the only way to get your daily fix. There is now such a wide choice of blends and styles. Along with dozens of styles of home roasters, brewers and even home espresso machines. Espresso, was invented in 1901 and has grown in popularity ever since. You can get straight shots, long shots or double shots. What ever your pleasure you can make it at home.
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