Hi there! I’m Nick Green, and welcome to the salon! Today, we’re diving into some amazing facts about coffee. Did you know that the famous composer Ludwig van Beethoven was super picky about his coffee? He insisted that each cup be made with exactly 60 coffee beans. That’s just one of the many cool things about coffee that I’m excited to share with you.
Coffee has a really interesting past. For example, in 1746, Sweden banned coffee because people thought it was dangerous. King Gustav III even conducted an experiment with twins to see if coffee was harmful. One twin drank coffee all day, while the other drank tea. Surprisingly, both twins lived longer than the king, with the tea-drinking twin passing away first at 83 years old.
In Prussia, coffee wasn’t very popular at first because people preferred beer for breakfast. In 1777, Frederick the Great encouraged his people to drink beer in the morning instead of coffee.
According to legend, we might have goats to thank for discovering coffee. Thousands of years ago, an Ethiopian man named Kaldi noticed his goats were extra energetic after eating berries from a certain tree. These berries contained coffee beans, leading to the discovery of coffee.
Before people started brewing coffee, they actually ate the beans. African tribes would grind the berries and mix them with animal fat to make energy snacks. Today, the United States drinks more coffee than any other country, but Finland has the highest coffee consumption per person.
Ever wondered how decaf coffee is made? It’s all about removing the caffeine from the beans. The leftover caffeine is often sold to soda companies and pharmaceutical businesses.
Honoré de Balzac, a famous writer, reportedly drank 50 cups of coffee a day to help him write. In 1932, Brazilian athletes sold coffee on their ship to fund their trip to the Olympics in Los Angeles.
Did you know Starbucks is named after a character from the book “Moby Dick”? It’s named after Captain Ahab’s first mate, Starbuck. Also, the first-ever webcam was set up in 1993 at the University of Cambridge to keep an eye on a coffee pot, so researchers wouldn’t miss out on fresh coffee.
During the Civil War, both Union and Confederate soldiers loved coffee. It was so popular that soldiers sometimes traded it across enemy lines. For a long time, Hawaii was the only U.S. state growing coffee, but now you can find coffee farms in California and Georgia too.
One of the priciest coffees in the world comes from beans that have been eaten and digested by a creature called a palm civet. This unique coffee can cost around $600 a pound!
Thanks for joining me on this coffee adventure! I’m Nick Green, and I hope you enjoyed learning these fun facts about coffee.
Choose one fascinating fact about coffee from the article and conduct further research on it. Create a short presentation or poster to share with the class. Include interesting details, historical context, and any surprising information you discover.
Using the information from the article, create a timeline that highlights key events in the history of coffee. Be sure to include dates and descriptions for each event. You can use drawings or digital tools to make your timeline visually appealing.
Imagine you are Kaldi, the Ethiopian man who discovered coffee thanks to his energetic goats. Write a short story from Kaldi’s perspective, describing how he felt and what he did after noticing his goats’ behavior. Be creative and add your own twist to the legend!
Think about how coffee was promoted in different times and places. Design an advertisement for coffee, either from the past or for a modern audience. Consider what makes coffee appealing and how you can convey that in your ad.
Learn more about the process of decaffeinating coffee. Create a simple diagram or infographic that explains how caffeine is removed from coffee beans. Share your findings with the class and discuss why people might choose decaf coffee.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
—
Hi, I’m Nick Green. Welcome to the salon! This is a Mental Floss video. Did you know that Ludwig van Beethoven was quite particular about his coffee? He supposedly insisted that his cups be made with exactly 60 beans each. That’s just the first of many interesting facts about coffee that I’m going to share with you today.
Coffee has a fascinating history. For instance, it was banned in Sweden in 1746 because it was thought to be dangerous. King Gustav III even set up an experiment with a set of twins to prove that coffee would shorten your lifespan. One twin was forced to drink coffee all day, while the other drank tea. Interestingly, both twins outlived the king, with the tea drinker passing away first at the age of 83.
In Prussia, coffee was also frowned upon as it became more popular than beer, which had been the traditional breakfast drink. In 1777, Frederick the Great issued a statement urging his subjects to drink beer in the morning instead of coffee.
According to legend, coffee lovers have goats to thank for their favorite drink. Thousands of years ago, an Ethiopian man named Kaldi noticed that his goats acted unusually energetic after eating berries from a certain tree, which contained coffee beans. This led to the discovery of coffee.
For a long time, coffee beans were eaten rather than brewed. African tribes would grind the berries and mix them with animal fat to create energy snacks. The United States consumes more coffee than any other country, but Finland has the highest coffee consumption per capita.
Interestingly, the process of making decaf coffee involves literally removing the caffeine from the beans. The leftover caffeine is often sold to soda manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies.
Honoré de Balzac, a famous writer, reportedly drank 50 cups of coffee a day to aid his writing. To fund their journey to the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles, Brazilian athletes loaded their ship with coffee and sold it along the way.
Starbucks is named after Captain Ahab’s first mate, Starbuck, from “Moby Dick.” The name does not have an apostrophe, suggesting it refers to a group of first mates.
The first-ever webcam was pointed at a coffee pot, set up in 1993 at the University of Cambridge’s computer laboratory, allowing researchers to monitor the coffee situation without leaving their desks.
During the Civil War, both Union and Confederate soldiers were addicted to coffee. Naval blockades made it difficult for Southern troops to obtain coffee, leading to unofficial trades between soldiers on the front lines.
For a long time, Hawaii was the only U.S. state to grow coffee, but now you can also find coffee grown in California and Georgia.
Finally, one of the most expensive coffees in the world comes from beans that have been eaten and digested by a civet-like creature called a palm civet. This unique coffee can cost around $600 a pound.
Thanks for watching Mental Floss! I’m Nick Green.
[Music]
Goodbye!
—
Let me know if you need any further modifications!
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs. – In history class, we learned about the ancient civilizations of Egypt and Mesopotamia.
Coffee – A drink made from the roasted and ground seeds of a tropical shrub, often consumed for its stimulating effects. – The writer often drank coffee late into the night to stay awake while working on his novel.
Goats – Domesticated animals known for their ability to climb and their use in agriculture for milk and meat. – According to legend, goats discovered coffee when a shepherd noticed them acting energetically after eating certain berries.
Beans – Seeds from certain plants, often used as food or in the production of beverages like coffee. – The coffee beans were carefully roasted to bring out their rich flavor before being brewed.
Drink – A liquid that can be swallowed as refreshment or nourishment. – During the Revolutionary War, soldiers often drank tea as a substitute for coffee when supplies were low.
Writer – A person who uses written words to express ideas or tell stories. – The writer was inspired by historical events to create a compelling narrative for his latest book.
Soldiers – Individuals who serve in an army and are trained for warfare. – The soldiers bravely fought in the battle, which became a significant event in history.
Experiment – A scientific procedure undertaken to test a hypothesis or demonstrate a known fact. – The scientist conducted an experiment to understand how caffeine affects concentration and alertness.
Consumption – The act of using up a resource or ingesting food and drink. – The consumption of coffee increased during the 18th century as it became a popular beverage in Europe.
Caffeine – A natural stimulant found in coffee, tea, and other plants, known for its ability to increase alertness. – Many people rely on caffeine to help them wake up and stay focused throughout the day.
