Coffee has been a popular drink for centuries and even
today, it is more popular than ever. The reason lies in its unique qualities -
delicious aroma and taste.
# 1
The coffee bean was first discovered in the Middle East, and
in the course of its long history, coffee has had many faces, from being a
drink with almost holy admiration to a reviving brew enjoyed in the early
coffee houses of New York and London. From a tradition richly inflated with
social customs and rituals, coffee drinking since the twentieth century, had
become a more informal affair, especially after the introduction of instant
coffee.
# 2
There are three species of coffee plant - Coffea Liberrica,
Coffea Arabica and Coffea Canephora. All these range in size from small shrubs
to tall trees, reaching heights of more than 32 feet.
# 3
Coffee is the world’s most valuable agricultural commodity,
even of more importance financially than wheat or corn. It has become one of
the most valuable primary products in world trade, second only to oil.
# 4
It takes between three and five years for coffee plants to
reach maturity. The fruit of the coffee plant is called cherries and contain
two flattish seeds, called coffee beans. The cherries develop as green clusters
along the branches of the plants, and turn red when ripe.
# 5
Coffee is also much more than just a straightforward drink -
it is an important flavoring in a whole range of foods. There are coffee liqueurs
for the end of a perfect meal, and coffee milk shakes and iced drinks for long
summer days. You can make coffee-flavored cakes and cookies, ice creams,
gelatos and granitas, light mousses, trifles and other exotic desserts.
