Two billion cups of coffee are consumed every single day by 1 billion coffee drinkers worldwide. The coffee market is valued at USD 126.17 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach USD 158.89 billion by 2028.
Whoever discovered coffee is truly the GOAT (greatest of all time). Interestingly, it's believed that an actual goat played a role in its discovery. In the 9th century, an Ethiopian goat herder named Kaldi observed that after his goats ate berries from a certain tree, they became so energetic that they couldn't sleep at night.
Some interesting facts about coffee:
- World's Second Largest Commodity: After crude oil, coffee is often noted as the second most traded commodity on earth.
- Coffee “Cherry”: Coffee beans are actually the seeds of cherries from the coffee plant. Each cherry typically contains two seeds, which are the coffee beans.
- World's Coffee Capital: Brazil is the largest coffee-producing country in the world, followed by countries like Vietnam, Colombia, and Indonesia.
- World Coffee Consumption: Finland is often cited as the country with the highest per capita coffee consumption, with its citizens consuming an average of around 12 kg per person annually.
- Kopi Luwak (Civet Coffee): This coffee is famous (or infamous) for its unique production process. Civet cats eat ripe coffee cherries, and these pass through their digestive tracts. The beans are then excreted, collected from the feces, cleaned, and roasted.
- Black Ivory Coffee: It's rare and expensive, and for a unique reason. The production process involves the coffee beans passing "in and out" of an elephant's body.
- Technology: Technology has had a significant impact on the coffee industry, from the farming stage to consumption.
- With the use of drones, satellite imagery, and sensors, farmers can monitor their crops more efficiently. They can assess the health of their plants, optimize irrigation, and detect diseases or pests early, thus improving yield and quality.
- Big data enables farmers to analyze patterns and trends, helping them make more informed decisions about planting, harvesting, and processing coffee.
- Modern roasting machines are equipped with software that allows roasters to control and replicate roasting profiles with high precision, ensuring consistency in flavor.
- Many coffee shops have integrated ordering systems within their apps or websites, allowing consumers to order and pay for their coffee in advance, minimizing wait times.
- As the industry moves toward more sustainable practices, there's an emphasis on using technology to reduce waste, recycle water, and find green energy sources for coffee production.
Starbucks: Is it a coffee shop? Or a high-tech company?
Today (9/29/2023) is National Coffee Day in the U.S. and Canada. Treat yourself to a cup of coffee !
