There comes a point in every relationship where you start to learn things about the other person that will either make you fall deeper in love… or test your patience. We like to think that with coffee, however, the more you know, the more there is to appreciate (and the more to justify your growing mug collection!).
Whether you’re a lifelong coffee drinker or just tried your first Malu pour over, here are four incredible coffee facts that will make you savor your next cup just a little bit longer.
1. Money doesn’t grow on trees, but coffee does (sort of!)
Coffee beans are actually seeds. These seeds form the pit of the coffee cherry, a small, green fruit that grows on a coffee tree. Coffee cherries turn a deep red as they ripen and upon harvesting, their seeds are extracted and processed into the coffee beans we know and love today.
While we cannot truthfully say that coffee is a fruit, can we all agree it deserves its own place on the food pyramid?
2. Darker roasts have less caffeine
Dark roasts, like The Classic, are known for being full-bodied and intense, but did you know that they actually contain slightly less caffeine than lighter or medium roasts? This is because the coffee beans are roasted a few minutes longer, losing more caffeine and mass along the way. Now rest assured– the difference has been described as “negligible,” so it’s not like you have to drink an extra cup of dark roast to make up for it… though we won’t judge you if you do.
3. Speaking of caffeine… decaf does not mean caffeine-free
Remember the harvesting and processing of the coffee fruit that we discussed in #1? It turns out, it is during this part of the process when coffee roasters can decaffeinate the beans– removing 97% of their caffeine content. They can do this in a variety of ways, mostly using water or some kind of solvent. They are then roasted accordingly.
Decaf coffee typically contains about 2-3 mg of caffeine per cup, which is significantly lower than a standard cup of coffee but not technically caffeine-free.
4. There are over 2 billion cups of coffee consumed every day
After water and tea, coffee is the third most consumed beverage on the planet. It dates back to the 13th century, with some references and origin stories going as far back as the first century. Hailed for its list of health benefits (stay tuned to learn more!) and the overall power of a daily wellness ritual, it’s not hard to imagine why it’s withstood the test of time.
Sweetened or unsweetened, hot or iced, dark or light, from a mug or in a glass, sitting down or standing up. However you enjoy your cup of coffee in the morning– it’s somewhat comforting to know there’s 1,999,999,999 more being poured with you.
You’re in good company.