International Coffee Day
How much do you know about coffee?
With International Coffee Day taking place on October 1, we’re on hand to make sure you go into it with some extra coffee know-how, plus a couple of coffee-based recipes to try.
Calling coffee a popular beverage would be an understatement. It is the world's second most consumed drink (not counting tap water) behind tea, making it more widely consumed than beer, wine, spirits, and soft drinks like cola! In the US, coffee tops the pile even ahead of tea! A 2021 report found that 59% of US adults consume coffee regularly compared to 47% for tea. The number of coffee enthusiasts in the USA is even marginally higher than the 58% of people who reported drinking bottled water regularly! Coffee's popularity has come a long way, but where and when did it all begin?
A brief history of coffee
The exact date when humans began drinking coffee remains unclear, but the first instances of it are known to have taken place in Ethiopia. The Yemenese then began importing coffee during the 15th century, with coffee's spread from East Africa into the Middle East marking the start of its evolution into the global drink it is today. By the 16th century, coffee was commonly drunk in nearby North African and Middle Eastern countries, such as Egypt, Syria, Turkey, and Persia (now Iran).
Coffee's popularity continued to develop with the growth of coffee houses. These establishments became social hubs for many, where they played host to numerous social activities, including music performances, games such as chess, and simple conversation. Following its extreme popularity in the Middle East and North Africa, coffee came to Europe in the 17th century, and coffee houses were well established in London by the middle of the century. Coffee was introduced to America by the British in the 17th century, and by the late 18th century, coffee had become a more popular drink than tea in America.
Coffee production today
Today, coffee is drunk and produced globally. The world's biggest producer of coffee is Brazil, which accounts for around a third of the world's coffee production. Other major coffee producers include Vietnam, Colombia, Indonesia, and the world's original coffee producer - Ethiopia.
You may have noticed by now that all the world's biggest coffee producers are countries with warm climates. That's because the Coffea plant from which coffee beans come thrives in temperate and tropical environments. The world's most prolific coffee exporters are all located within what is known as The Coffee Belt - a latitudinal area of the globe between the respective Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn.
Warm temperatures allow the Coffea plant to ripen more quickly, resulting in higher yields. However, high-altitude environments in these locations produce what many consider the best quality coffee. High altitudes mean cooler temperatures and good drainage, resulting in a longer plant maturation process, allowing the coffee beans to develop a richer, more complex flavor.
What is International Coffee Day?
There have been and continue to be various days dedicated to coffee around the world, but the International Coffee Day we celebrate on October 1 began in 2015 when the International Coffee Organization launched the day's first official celebration in Milan.
International Coffee Day has a variety of purposes. As well as being a day to celebrate all things coffee-related, many use it to highlight the plight of low-income coffee growers and to promote fair trade coffee.
As you might expect, if you're looking for quality glassware to enjoy your coffee from this International Coffee Day, we're on hand at RIEDEL to help. Our RIEDEL Nespresso Reveal Series was launched in partnership with Nespresso to help reveal the full elegance and complexity of your coffee's flavors for an unmatched espresso drinking experience. The Reveal Collection features: the Reveal Intense Glass for your strongest espresso shots; the Reveal Mild Glass for expressing your gentler espressos' aromas, and the Reveal Lungo Glass for those who prefer a little more volume than a regular espresso offers.
A couple of coffee-based recipes for you
You may wish to mark International Coffee Day with a simple espresso or lungo from your RIEDEL Nespresso Reveal Glass, but you can also get a little more creative with your coffee beverage. Consider whipping up a delicious Dalgona Coffee or an appetizing Affogato Panna Cotta with these fun recipes you can make at home:
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