Coffee is one of the most well-loved beverages around the globe.
For the vast majority of us our day does not start until we have sipped the warm, rich flavours, and many will also see it as the perfect accompaniment to a catch-up with friends or family.
It’s no secret that coffee forms a huge part of our daily lives, so it’s only right that there’s an international coffee day to celebrate it!
For this reason International Coffee Day is celebrated each year on 1 October, a global celebration for coffee lovers to come together and celebrate their love of the beverage while supporting coffee farmers, baristas, coffee shops and more.
The event aims to raise awareness of the incredible work of those involved in the coffee industry and promote the fair trade of coffee.
Coffee is one of the most popular beverages in the world, with billions of cups consumed all over the world each year!
How did it all start?
Coffee is thought to date back to 800 AD, where it was discovered by 9th century goat herders. It was said they noticed their goats eating the plant and afterwards it appeared to be “dancing”. Fascinated by the results, the goat herder tried them himself and discovered it made him excitable too.
Coffee is a fruit
Despite its being called a “bean”, coffee is actually a fruit. The “beans” grow on a bush and are found in the centre of a berry, known as a coffee cherry.
Interesting coffee facts
. Brazil grows the most coffee in the world. It is widely known as one of the biggest coffee hotspots of the world, the number one coffee producer, followed by Vietnam and Colombia.. While Brazil grows the most coffee, Finland drinks the most! On average, Fins consume 12 kg per person per year, which works out to around an impressive 1 680 cups each a year.. Nescafé produced the first instant coffee. The story goes all the way back to 1929, when Brazil was looking for a solution to help with the coffee surplus in the country which, after years of careful research, led to the development of the NESCAFÉ® brand. . The most expensive coffee in the world is Kopi Luwak, and from 2019 it cost US$600 per pound (about R24 000 per kg at the current exchange rate). Native to Indonesia, the coffee is roasted after being eaten, digested and expelled by a Palm Civet. It’s said they eat only the very best, sweetest and freshest coffee cherries, and when ingested it’s naturally fermented which gives it a distinctive flavour.
Our favourite coffees
Cappuccino
A cappuccino is the perfect balance of espresso, steamed milk and foam. This coffee is all about the structure and the even splitting of all elements into equal thirds.
An expertly made cappuccino should be rich, but not acidic and have a mildly sweet flavouring from the milk. And, because the milk is not actually mixed in it gives the espresso a stronger flavour.
Macchiato
The macchiato is an espresso coffee drink, topped with a small amount of foamed or steamed milk to allow the taste of the espresso to still shine through.
Café au Lait
The Café au Lait is made using brewed coffee and steamed milk, in a typical ratio of one part coffee to one part steamed milk with no froth or foam on top (sometimes certain coffee shops will add it though). It is not the same as white coffee which is brewed coffee with cold milk or powdered whitener added in.
Americano
An Americano is quite simply just hot water and espresso. It’ll either be served ½ and ½ or 1/3 espresso to 2/3 water, depending on the coffee shop in question or how you’ve chosen to brew it.
Flat white coffee
A flat white is a blend of micro-foamed milk poured over a single or double shot of espresso. This microfoam is steamed milk infused with air, to create a smooth and velvety texture and creamy taste. Precise pouring and steaming of the microfoam is essential in making a flat white.
