10 things you don't know about coffee

According to the legend, coffee was discovered by an Ethiopian shepherd

Legend has it that coffee was discovered by a young Ethiopian shepherd Kaldi. According to it, one day, a shepherd observed a strange behaviour of goats that excitedly and arousedly jumped all over the pasture. The shepherd boy decided to find out what caused the euphoria of animals. It turned out that they were eager to eat fruit from a nearby tree. The shepherd tried the little red berries himself. After eating them, he felt full of energy. He shared his discovery with a monk. The monk was curious about the effect of the mysterious fruit, so he picked some of them, took them with him to the monastery and started to prepare a tasty and stimulating drink from them. This is how coffee was introduced, which is now a known, valued and one of the most popular drinks in the world.

The story has it that drinking and possessing coffee was once strictly forbidden

According to historical records, in ancient times, the possession and consumption of coffee was severely punished in some countries. Initially in Arabia, in the early 16th century, where conservative Islamic clerics have decided that coffee was harmful and incompatible with the Koran. More than 100 years later, the sultan of Constantinople came to similar conclusions by announcing coffee is a heretical drink. Catholic clergy has also recognized coffee as a satanic drink when it arrived in Italy, at the beginning of the 12th century. The ban on coffee imports also applied in Prussia. In 1777, the Prussian king decided that coffee was expensive and too much money goes abroad.

3. Coffee is a fruit

Did you know that coffee beans are really berry seeds? Coffee berries is an edible fruit growing on the bushes - the coffee trees. This fruit looks like cherries. They are round and sweet, dark red in colour and usually have two adjacent flattened sides of the grain inside, which is surrounded by a silvery membrane. The coffee bean contains caffeine, which is why they are used to produce our beloved drink.

4. Arabica and Robusta are the most popular coffee varieties

Espresso machines and coffee makers are devices that make it quick and easy to prepare a coffee drink. However, an exquisite coffee taste depends not only on a high quality coffee machine, brewer or coffee pot, but also on a good type of coffee. Two of the most popular coffees in the world, the Arabica and Robusta differ in their taste and caffeine content.

Arabica...

is the most precious kind of coffee, which is very popular - it is drunk by as much as 70% of coffee lovers in the world. Arabica beans are flat, oblong and have a greenish colour. Coffee from these beans is mild with a slight hint of spice and chocolate.

Robusta, known as Congolese coffee, has smaller, oval, grey beans and has twice as much of the caffeine content than Arabica does. Robusta is easier to grow and much cheaper than Arabica, it is heavy and earthy, its taste is hard to find pleasant, which is why it is no longer as adored as Arabica.

5. The most expensive coffee in the world is Kopi Luwak

Kopi Luwak

One of the most expensive coffee in the world is Kopi Luwak - its cup costs about 100 PLN (20 GBP)! The method of obtaining the coffee beans affects such a high price. Kopi Luwak is a South East Asian coffee type, extracted from the feces of the Asian palm civet. Each day, the animals eat the most ripe, properly selected fruit, which, after digestion, is extracted from their feces. During the digestive processes in the animal's body the coffee loses its bitter, tart aroma and gains a new, delicious taste and smell.

6 Contrary to popular belief, espresso does not contain the greatest amount of caffeine

It is generally believed that espresso has the highest caffeine content. However, this is not true. Caffeine from coffee is rinsed out in the greatest quantities only from about the first minute of brewing of the black drink to the end of the third. Espresso, although intense and essential, dense and expressive in taste, is brewed briefly, because only for a few dozen seconds (about thirty). This makes it contain less caffeine than coffee made with a filter coffee maker.

7. Coffee with milk? Yes! But under certain conditions.

Some people can't imagine coffee without milk, while others consider this combination a crime. The truth is, not every coffee tastes good with it. However, there are types of coffee that have milk as an integral part of the coffee. The most common example is cappuccino, i.e. espresso with foamed milk. Properly prepared coffee milk should be smooth, shiny and have the consistency of a thick yoghurt. Its temperature is also very important. The milk that is added to coffee should be at 60-70 degrees Celsius. Such values make it possible for you to feel the natural sweetness in it, which has a beneficial effect on the taste of cappuccino. Cappuccino should have a slight vanilla, chocolate or nutty taste, if it's properly prepared and you use a good quality of espresso.

8. Black coffee helps to lose weight

It turns out that coffee does not only smell, taste and stimulate perfectly. Regularly drinking it is also a great way to maintain a beautiful, slim shape. Well, the caffeine contained in the black drink accelerates metabolism, which can support the weight loss process. Additionally, caffeine has a thermogenic effect, which means that it converts calories into heat, and not into adipose tissue.

9. Regular coffee drinking shields against depression

The caffeine contained in coffee beans blocks receptors in the brain that monitor body's fatigue levels. Thanks to this, after drinking coffee, we feel stimulated, full of energy and strength. Moreover, it's indicated that drinking two cups of coffee a day can protect us from depression.

10. Coffee has a number of valuable cosmetic properties

Due to a number of valuable ingredients contained in coffee, this product is used on a large scale in the cosmetics industry. Coffee shows beneficial effect on the appearance of skin and hair. Perfectly oxygenates and nourishes, prevents wrinkles, slims and reduces hair loss. That is why we can find coffee beans in creams, lotions or masks. Hair rinses with strengthening hair effects are also extremely popular, as well as the coffee peelings, which perfectly cope with the problem of cellulite. Regular care with cosmetics containing coffee extract will contribute to blood circulation, smoothing, tightening, firming and slimming the skin and improving the hair condition.

At FormAdore we love coffee as much as you do, so we have a whole range of tools to help you brew it. Espresso machines, french presses and coffee makers (induction, Italian, steel and aluminium), as well as drippers. Take a look at our category of coffee grinders!

No matter what kind of coffee you drink or how you brew it, remember to make sure that it's properly administered. Finally, the dish in which we drink coffee affects the perception of its taste and aroma. Especially recommended for serving a black drink are porcelain cups, quickly heating up and enhancing the aroma of the coffee drink. It is also worth choosing a suitable cup or glass for a particular type of coffee. You will find both espresso cups, cappuccino cups as well as latte glasses. Equip your kitchen with good quality set of cups to enjoy a delicious taste and elegant coffee served every day.