Lots of people love coffee! It’s the second most popular drink after water. Every year, on an average, a whopping 400 billion cups of coffee are enjoyed worldwide. In the United States, about half of the adults, which is a whopping 107 million people, drink coffee every single day. On average, each of these coffee lovers has about three and a half cups of coffee every day. That’s a whole lot of sipping! But the question is, Why coffee is so famous? Well, before we answer, let’s get back to the history of coffee,
How Coffee was Discovered? Origin of World’s Second Most Popular Beverage
However, numerous countries claims to have discovering coffee, but according to some sources coffee was first eaten, not drunk. Long ago, a guy named Kaldi saw his goats getting all energetic after munching on some leaves and berries from a special tree.
Turns out, it was the coffee plant. Kaldi, then tried the fruit himself and had a similar reaction. Gradually, other people started becoming more aware of this energetic plant. In the 15th century, people moved coffee plants from Ethiopia to Yemen and started growing them there.
Wikipedia adds that the first proof of people drinking coffee like we do today goes back to the middle of the 15th century in Yemen. So, Yemen played a crucial role in the early history of coffee as a popular drink.
But, What makes Coffee so Popular?
Daily 2.25 billion cups of coffee and yearly 400 billion cups of coffee are consumed worldwide. Coffee is popular mainly because it contains caffeine, a stimulant that gives you energy. Caffeine itself is the most widely used drug globally, and 90% of people in the United States consume it daily in some form.
Caffeine in coffee acts as a psychoactive stimulant, making people feel less tired and more energetic. It can also boost mood and various brain functions by blocking inhibitory neurotransmitters. However, too much caffeine, especially before bedtime, can disrupt sleep. It affects the brain by blocking certain signals that make you feel sleepy.
It’s important to note that too much caffeine, especially close to bedtime, can disrupt sleep. Studies suggest that a high dose of 400 mg, even if consumed several hours before bedtime, can significantly affect sleep quality. A smaller dose of 100 mg right before bedtime may also interfere with falling and staying asleep.
73% of US Consumers Drink Coffee Every Day,
According to a 2024 survey, 73% of US consumers drink coffee every day, because beyond its stimulating effects (thanks to caffeine), coffee has become a comforting routine for many people. Starting the day with a cup of coffee is a common habit, and for some, it’s a reliable source of energy to help them through the day.
In a nutshell, the popularity of coffee can be attributed to its dual nature of providing a quick energy boost and serving as a comforting daily ritual for many individuals. However, it’s crucial to be mindful of the amount consumed, especially in the evening, to ensure a good night’s sleep.
100s of Unique Varieties of Coffee, Espresso is the Most Famous
There are more than 100 kinds of coffee, but the main four are called Arabica, Robusta, Liberica, and Excelsa. Each of them has special things that make them different. Arabica and Robusta are commonly used coffee beans. However, Liberica and Excelsa are less common.
Talking about the famous variety of Coffee, Espresso is the most popular coffee worldwide. It’s a strong coffee made by forcing hot water through finely-ground coffee beans. Espresso is thicker and has more caffeine than regular coffee.
It serves as the base for other drinks like cappuccino, latte, and Americano. Usually, espresso is made from dark-roasted Arabica coffee beans. Nescafé, a famous coffee brand, uses a mix of two types of coffee beans in its signature blend: Arabica and Robusta.
Countries with the Highest Love for of Coffee
Finland leads the world in coffee consumption, with an average person drinking 12 kg (26 lbs) of coffee each year. Finns love their coffee so much that they legally take two 10-minute coffee breaks at work every day. In terms of highest demand of coffee, Norway follows closely, with an average of 9.9 kg (22 lbs) of coffee consumed per person annually in the country. The table below shows countries with highest demand of coffee.
| Rank | Country | Annual Coffee Consumption (kg/lbs) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Finland | 12 / 26 |
| 2 | Norway | 9.9 / 22 |
| 3 | Iceland | 9 / 20 |
| 4 | Denmark | 8.7 / 19 |
| 5 | Netherlands | 8.4 / 19 |
| 6 | Sweden | 8.2 / 18 |
| 7 | Switzerland | 7.9 / 17 |
| 8 | Belgium | 6.8 / 15 |
| 9 | Luxembourg | 6.5 / 14 |
| 10 | Canada | 6.5 / 14 |
Coffee, Most Traded Commodity after Oil
Coffee holds the position of the world’s second most traded commodity, following closely behind crude oil. Cultivated in more than 70 countries by a multitude of independent farmers, the global coffee industry presents promising business prospects, boasting an annual estimated income exceeding $200 billion.
Remarkably, even modest coffee shops have the capacity to sell a few hundred cups daily, while larger chains such as Starbucks achieve sales of approximately 600 cups per store per day. It’s one of the most popular drinks globally, with between 2.25 billion – 3 billion cups consumed every day. People really like coffee, and the demand for high-quality beans is going up.
In many developing countries, where most of the coffee is made, it’s a big source of income. The coffee market is one of the busiest in the world. This makes it interesting for people who want to invest for the long term.
