5 Facts About Coffee Beans That Everyone Should Know

The history of coffee

Legend has it that coffee was first discovered in the 9th century by an Arabian shepherd who found his goats dancing around a dark green leafed plant with bright red cherries.

That wonderful brew

Once the shepherd realized that it was the cherries that were causing his goats reaction, he tried the berries himself before telling a nearby monastery of his discovery. The monks then found the plant and brewed the cherries in boiling water to drink.

Here are 5 facts about coffee beans that you may not know:

1. The two mains types:

There are two main types of coffee bean used in coffee production; they are the Arabica bean and the Robusta bean. Arabica beans are the most commonly used and preferred flavor, while Robusta beans are more hardy and contain almost double the amount of caffeine.

2. It's not really a bean:

The coffee bean is the seed of the fruit grown on the coffee plant. The seeds are usually picked by hand before being removed from the skin and washed. They are then either left out in the sun to dry or dried by machine before being roasted and brewed to drink.

3. Caffeine is the key:

The caffeine in the beans helps to give us a kick start to our day. It also makes us more alert and increases our concentration levels.

4. No US coffee:

No coffee is grown in the continental United States, despite its popularity there. All US coffee beans come from Hawaii and Puerto Rico.

5. Where most of the coffee comes from:

The majority of coffee in the world comes from South America. Brazil and Colombia are responsible for some of the finest coffee on the market, which is mainly due to their countries warm climate which is perfect for cultivating large coffee plantations.

Now that you know a little bit more about coffee beans, you may enjoy your next cup of coffee that little bit more.