10 unknown facts about coffee

Did you know? Some curiosity about coffee.

Think you know a lot about coffee? We've searched far and wide for interesting facts our very own coffee experts found fascinating on their journeys to coffee enlightenment, and want to share some of the best ones with you.

1. Though coffee was discovered in Ethiopia, and it's common knowledge over 40% of all coffee is produced in Brazil, the third largest producer of coffee is actually on the other side of the world, in Vietnam.

2. Coffee was originally consumed as a snack. Combined with fats, it made for a great high energy source.

3. Coffee beans are not in fact beans, but seeds. Like the fun and imaginative people we are though, because of their bean like shape, we've been calling them coffee beans as long as anyone can remember.

4. Coffee has been banned a few times in history, firstly in Mecca in 1511 as it was believed it promoted radical thinking, and most recently in 1777 in Prussia by King Frederick, as he claimed it interfered with beer drinking, as beer was superior. How wrong he was!

5. Finnish people are the largest consumers of coffee per person per day, at roughly between 4-5 large cups a day. Looks like people in Finland know how to live their lives right!

6. Coffee was the first food to be freeze dried, for consumption in World War II

7. Coffee is the second most traded commodity world wide, behind only oil. Looks like people trade with their taste buds...

8. According to legend, coffee was only discovered in 900 AD, by a prodigious goat with a eye for good taste. That means the Roman Empire, amongst other unfortunate pre 900 AD people, never had coffee! Without their morning coffee its no wonder it fell apart!

9. The world's most expensive coffee comes from the feces of the Sumatran Luwak wild cat, and is known for its smooth, chocolaty taste...It would be interesting to know how they discovered it!

10. The word 'coffee' comes from the Dutch word 'koffie'. In its native Arabic however, it is pronounced 'qahwah', meaning wine.