The Arabica coffee bean: one of, if not the greatest thing this world has ever seen. I have to be honest, I feel like there hasn't been a food product/consumable item that has had half the impact that the Arabica coffee bean has on our world.
It is believed that the Arabica coffee bean has been cultivated for human consumption for almost a thousand years now; legend has it, the Arabica bean was first cultivated after people witnessed goats mounting each other after eating the plant. The bean began to be used for human consumption and scholars began to report that it helped in extending their work hours and subsequently their production.
Since the late 15th century, coffee has been served in public places. Constantinople, (modern-day Istanbul), was the birthplace of coffee houses. Coffee was such an important product then, that a wife could legally divorce her husband had he not provided her with enough coffee. Turks usually enjoyed their coffee black, with little to no doctoring up with cream and sugar. It wasn't until the 16th century that people started to add spices and creams and sugars to play with the flavor of their coffee. Coffee houses began to grow in popularity in Europe after a British man on business enjoyed the houses in the Turkish lands. He brought the idea back to Britain with him, and coffee houses shot up all over Europe; Italy, Paris, and Germany all had their own houses by the middle of the 17th century. Since, the coffee houses have developed into bakeries/coffee shops worldwide; the most famous chain is known as Starbucks.
The Arabica coffee bean, native of Ethiopia, provides consumers the stimulant known as caffeine. Caffeine tricks your adenosine receptors into believing that your body is still producing ATP (which is what gives you energy). Short term (about 4-6 hours worth) benefits of caffeine include increase in alertness and awareness. Most people drink a cup of coffee in the morning to help them get through the work day. Long term benefits include lower risk of heart disease and diabetes, lower risk of cancer and the aid of cognitive function and memory as you age.
Like all things though, coffee and caffeine both deserve to be enjoyed in moderation. Too much caffeine (about 5-6 cups a day) can cause anxiety, insomnia, and an increase in blood pressure (for the "not-often" consumer). Too much caffeine consumption to going cold turkey can cause headaches and and fatigue, due to withdrawal.
It is believed that the Arabica coffee bean has been cultivated for human consumption for almost a thousand years now; legend has it, the Arabica bean was first cultivated after people witnessed goats mounting each other after eating the plant. The bean began to be used for human consumption and scholars began to report that it helped in extending their work hours and subsequently their production.
Since the late 15th century, coffee has been served in public places. Constantinople, (modern-day Istanbul), was the birthplace of coffee houses. Coffee was such an important product then, that a wife could legally divorce her husband had he not provided her with enough coffee. Turks usually enjoyed their coffee black, with little to no doctoring up with cream and sugar. It wasn't until the 16th century that people started to add spices and creams and sugars to play with the flavor of their coffee. Coffee houses began to grow in popularity in Europe after a British man on business enjoyed the houses in the Turkish lands. He brought the idea back to Britain with him, and coffee houses shot up all over Europe; Italy, Paris, and Germany all had their own houses by the middle of the 17th century. Since, the coffee houses have developed into bakeries/coffee shops worldwide; the most famous chain is known as Starbucks.
The Arabica coffee bean, native of Ethiopia, provides consumers the stimulant known as caffeine. Caffeine tricks your adenosine receptors into believing that your body is still producing ATP (which is what gives you energy). Short term (about 4-6 hours worth) benefits of caffeine include increase in alertness and awareness. Most people drink a cup of coffee in the morning to help them get through the work day. Long term benefits include lower risk of heart disease and diabetes, lower risk of cancer and the aid of cognitive function and memory as you age.
Like all things though, coffee and caffeine both deserve to be enjoyed in moderation. Too much caffeine (about 5-6 cups a day) can cause anxiety, insomnia, and an increase in blood pressure (for the "not-often" consumer). Too much caffeine consumption to going cold turkey can cause headaches and and fatigue, due to withdrawal.
Coffee is one of my favorite things in this world. If you enjoy it, good I'm glad. If you haven't tried it yet, or don't like the flavor, sure there are caffeinated alternatives out there, but nothing beats a hot cup of coffee. Also, if you're into coffee, the Keurig is probably the best coffee brewing machine on the planet. The K-cups are genius, and if you want a small, medium, or large cup, it's just the push of a button away. If you're new to coffee, and want to grab a cup to see if you like it or not, stay away from the pots that places keep out for a while, and stay away from convenience stores (although I do love a shitty 7-Eleven cup from time to time). First coffee experiences should be done right, so hit up your local coffee shop, Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks.
Aside from its delicious flavor, coffee has long played a major role in society. The Arabica coffee bean is about a 10 billion-dollar-a-year industry today, and has been sold and traded for about a thousand years now. Like I said: one of, if not the greatest
Credits: Please excuse the lack of non-academic sources...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coffea_arabica
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_effects_of_caffeine
http://coffeetea.about.com/od/history1/a/shophistory.htm
Credits: Please excuse the lack of non-academic sources...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coffea_arabica
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_effects_of_caffeine
http://coffeetea.about.com/od/history1/a/shophistory.htm
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