Introduction
Coffee is one of the leading commodities that contribute to the world’s economic growth. Although people like to generalize the word coffee, it should be known that the term may mean the plant, roasted beans, or the final brew, which is the beverage. Most people consume coffee as a daily morning drink and throughout the day in between meals. It can be made in a variety of ways, from amounts of concentration to preferred flavoring.
Many people prefer coffee to other brews because of its stimulating effects in the body caused by the caffeine content. Coffee ranks second after water in the most consumed product in the world, followed by tea in the third position (Wright et al., 2017). It is also ranked second after oil internationally as a highly profitable commodity and greatly contributes to global economic growth. In this paper, we discuss the history and adoption of coffee across continents and its influence socially, culturally, and economically to view how coffee has developed and influenced a person’s beliefs. Additionally, the production of coffee and its benefits are discussed regarding its impact on the economic and health sectors.
History and the Adoption of Coffee in the World
The history of coffee, its cultivation, and development, how it is consumed as a people’s culture show that coffee is viewed as more than just a stimulating beverage. Coffee has caused the creation of social and cultural traditions, built economies, created revolutions and rebellions, enhanced treatments and prevention of illnesses, promotion of friendships and family ties, and roused debates and controversies.
The origin of coffee is a mystery up to date, although some legends try to identify how coffee was discovered. The most common myth states that the origin of coffee traces back to the 10th century where an Ethiopian farmer named Kaldi discovers coffee beans and their caffeine characteristics through his goats (Gibbings, 2020). While herding, the farmer notices that his goats become very active after feeding on wild berries from a particular evergreen plant.
The wild berries are assumed to be currently trending coffee berries that have the same reactive effects. Kaldi reports his exciting encounter with a local priest who experiments the effects of the coffee berries on himself. The result is the same; he stays awake for a long time, therefore, proving the energizing effect of coffee. After discovering the invigorating reactions of coffee, knowledge about the beverage spreads across all corners of the world. The Arabian Peninsula becomes the first region to cultivate and trade coffee beans as a commodity in the 15th century (Gibbings, 2020).
Coffee in Arabian Peninsula
The first shipment of coffee beans to Yemen landed on a port outside the city called Mocha, a familiar name for a community that loved this drink. From Yemen, the product spread to other Arabic nations like Egypt, Turkey, and Persia. It was named the ‘wine of the Arabians’ as more people became addicted to it (Kazemi, 2020). The addiction gave rise to coffee houses known as qahveh khanehs, which became centers for most social and cultural activities. Individuals would gather in these outlets, perform traditional dances and songs, exchange stories and other important information throughout the region.
Before coffee was fully adopted as a people’s culture, Islamic leaders were opposed to consuming the beverage because of its intoxicating effects. Like alcohol, it was seen as an immoral influence on the public’s health and declared forbidden by court order in Mecca. Banning the merchandise led to riots all over the Arabian streets as communities had already ingrained the culture of coffee drinking, which acted as a substitute for alcoholic substances. Due to pressure, the authorities lifted the ban allowing the rapid spread of coffee drinking in almost all Arabic countries. The commodity became more popular after the riots, leading to its widespread in other continents in the early 1600s.
Coffee in Asia
In Asia, India and Indonesia were the first to cultivate coffee. It spread first to Italy before reaching other parts of Europe. India became the second region to cultivate the crop after an Indian saint, Baba Budan, smuggled coffee seeds from Yemen during his pilgrimage travels (Kumar, 2018). The reason why Baba Budan trafficked the product is that he wanted Yemen to be a monopoly in the farming and production of this crop where they could only sell the roasted beans. However, the cultivation of coffee in India comes as a surprise, and it was too late for Yemen to maintain its monopolistic practices.
The cultivation of this product in India was done on a large scale in the southern part, where the crop became a socio-economic activity up to date. In Indonesia, the Dutch also smuggled coffee beans from Yemen but encountered challenges in growing the plant due to unfavorable climatic conditions. Nevertheless, the Dutch did not give up but continued through a series of failures until the early 1700s where they finally succeeded, and the crop becomes a staple beverage in Javan, Indonesia (Atmadji et al., 2018). On a large scale, the plant was grown in Cebes and Sumatra, which increased its growth capacity in Indonesia, leading to fast economic progression.
Coffee in Europe
Finally, coffee arrived in Venice, Italy, in the year 1570 and became popular instantly after pope Clement the eighth endorsed the beverage as a Christian drink (Kazemi, 2020). The validation came after the pontiff had initially declared the drink satanic because of its stimulating effects. But after experiencing the impact himself, he affirmed its glory and set up a mass to baptize it to the relief of Christians who later became addicted to the beverage. With this acceptance, the consumption of coffee spread to other European countries, including England, Germany, Netherlands, France, and Austria. Comparable to the Arabs, the Europeans made the intake of this commodity a part of their social culture, giving rise to restaurants and hubs where people gathered for a drink and discussed politics, debates, and general social talks.
Coffee became a prestigious beverage among the English such that buying a single cup could help get information on almost any topic. People from the elite society adopted the culture of drinking coffee to pass the time, where one would opt to go to these outlets whenever they were free. England referred to these coffee hub gatherings as ‘penny universities’ because of the manner in which people were mingling in the coffee houses regardless of their social status. This is where topics such as politics and religion would be discussed.
Regular consumption of coffee led to significant economic and social growth in England, and some of the coffee houses became established businesses; for example, Edward Lloyd’s cafeteria expanded to become one of the largest insurance companies in England. The first coffee club to exist was also in England, the city of Oxford, which was named the Oxford Coffee Club and later the Royal Society Coffee Club. The drink became an addiction such that women were afraid of losing their husbands to the coffee houses. Hence they filed a petition against the practice of consuming the drink in 1674. This was to allow their men to spend more time at home with their families. Apart from that, King Charles, the Second, was also afraid of the product’s influence on his citizens. He feared losing control of the individuals; therefore, he attempted to ban all coffee shops; however, the attempt failed terribly.
The French were soon enchanted with coffee in 1669 after a Turkish ambassador introduces the beverage in Paris, where it became popular immediately as people from the royal family engaged in consuming it as an essential daily drink. The French marveled at both its aroma and stimulating effects that it became a prestigious beverage just like in England. During the battle of Vienna, Turkish soldiers brought along a considerable supply of merchandise during the war to conquer Austria. Nevertheless, in their defeat by Austrians, the product was left behind, which was then introduced in Austria in 1683.
The first coffee house to be established in Austria was called The Blue Bottle, owned by an officer who discovered the beverage and made it popular among the people. The soldier of rank then attempted to add sugar and milk to the drink, hence discovering flavors that enhanced the beverage consumption.
Coffee in South America
Americans can be considered the most coffee lovers despite being the last to know about these precious beans. With the beverage having spread to almost all countries in Europe, Asia, and Africa, the commodity finally traveled across the Atlantic into America in the early 18th century. In the U.S., it was introduced by the Dutch, who could not grow it in the Netherlands because of the climatic conditions. Though the precise circumstances under which the coffee was presented are not established, the first region to cultivate the plant was the Caribbean in South America. The area’s overall environmental conditions favored the growth and development of coffee. A single plant was brought by a captain named De Clique, who sailed across the Atlantic. He weathered storms and hardships but struggled to keep the shrub alive during the long journey until he made it to the Caribbean.
Since the crop was taken secretly from the Netherlands, De Clique decided to plant it with other different vegetation so as to hide it. With careful cultivation of the single plant, coffee beans were ready for harvesting in less than 30 weeks (Kumar, 2018).
Soon enough, there was a substantial amount of seed for large-scale cultivation in the whole of the Caribbean, which started from plantations in St Dominique, spreading throughout the region to Guadalupe and Martinique. Within several years, coffee farming was being practiced in South America and the rest of the Caribbean. In Jamaica, it was introduced by Sir Nicholas Lawes in 1730, during his rule as a governor in the Jamaican Islands (Kazemi, 2020). Due to its significant contribution to the economy, the Blue Mountains region was set aside as a large-scale coffee-growing zone in South America up to date.
As the leading producer of coffee worldwide, Brazil rather started its farming and production remarkably. Francisco de Melo Palheta, a Brazilian colonel during the 18th century, facilitated the acquisition of the seedlings from the French (Kumar, 2018). He took the opportunity to solve a dispute between the French and the Dutch at Guyana, where he borrowed saplings from the French governor. Upon refusal, Francisco played his cards well with the governor’s wife and got some clippings which he brought with him back home. Currently, from those few coffee trimmings, Brazil is the leading producer and exporter of coffee globally since 1852. Interestingly, even though coffee originated from Africa, it was later reintroduced in east Africa by Brazil in 1893. Tanzania and Kenya were considered fertile and had climatic conditions that could support their growth, hence the beginning of large-scale coffee production in Africa.
Coffee in North America
North America, commonly referred to as the U.S., changed the entire coffee industry with its adoption of widespread consumption. Initially, America was known for loving tea, but all this changed in 1773 with the coming of the American Revolution and the ‘Boston Tea Party. This involved riots at the harbor in protest against taxing tea by the English. Many patriotic citizens planned an ambush on tea shipments that were still at the port and hauled all the tea in the ocean. As a result, this particular beverage was replaced by coffee which became more favored and consumed than any other drink.
Since the American climate does not support the cultivation of coffee, most of it that is consumed is imported from other countries. The only region that grows this crop domestically is Hawaii, where the commodity was introduced in 1817 by Brazilians. This created the only American orchard that supports the public’s love for coffee in 1825 (Kumar, 2018). Thus, America is the second leading importer after the European Union since 1773, enhancing significant economic growth for the producer countries. Americans really love their coffee, with a single individual consuming an average of three cups daily.
Development of the Coffee Industry
Coffee Production
Almost 200 years from when coffee cultivation and consumption started, many aspects and innovations have emerged. For instance, methods of production, brewing, roasting, flavoring, and packaging have advanced with each year. Most coffee is cultivated in countries located in tropical regions due to the suitable climatic conditions. In the previous discussion on the history of coffee, Brazil is known for supplying most of this commodity globally. It has been the top producer for almost 120 years, managing to manufacture more than 2 million tons annually (Boaventura et al., 2018). It grows both Robusta and Arabica coffee species that are exported all over the globe.
Correspondingly, Brazil is famous for making the best flavors which are enhanced by caramel and dark chocolate found in large quantities in the region. Vietnam is the second large-scale producer, with the main coffee produced being the Robusta species at 1.7 million tons annually (Atmadji et al., 2018). Robusta beans are famous for making instant beverages because of their low acidity levels and being less bitter.
Globally, Vietnam produces 40% of Robusta species which was consumed locally, and most of it exported to factories that make coffee and its products (Atmadji et al., 2018). If one is looking for great flavors and strong aromas, Colombia is the best place to go as it ranks third in production. Its coffee is famous for having fruity aromas and a bit of citric bitterness, which gives the drink a bitter-sweet taste. Other producer countries include Indonesia, which is popular for Javan coffee; Honduras, which makes vanilla and hazelnut flavors; and Ethiopia, the birthplace of coffee, which cultivates a wide variety of coffee beans that are mostly consumed locally.
The Global Culture of Coffee
Many communities across the world have adopted the production and consumption of coffee as a social or economic symbol of a particular culture. Customs can be defined as a people’s lifestyle or how they view certain aspects of life. Culture defines a community’s identity, beliefs, social values, and connecting ties. Coffee is popular among many individuals because of several reasons, which make up the tradition of some societies towards beverage.
When discussing coffee beliefs among global communities, it simply means how the people regard the drink in terms of its meaning to them. Another factor is the technology involved with the brewing or roasting, ideas, and practices, among other aspects (Samoggia et al., 2020). For example, when one visits a Java coffee house, specific standards or flavors are associated with the place that defines its culture distinctively.
People who frequent a particular house of coffee create a bond with the business, having full knowledge of all types of the drink that is being served and what to expect when ordering it. Values unite people and actions; for instance, individuals who find themselves visiting the same coffee house on a regular basis will most likely form bonds because of the coffee culture that they share (Kühn & Bothma, 2018). They will tend to have the same experience and knowledge about the drink, which develops into topics of conversation and more interactions.
Most of the time, one will get frequent invitations of having a cup of coffee more than any other beverage; hence, this drink’s culture is uniting individuals in meetings, whether personal or business. Communities that consume it have a way of owning it as something belonging to them intimately. Societies identify coffee as ‘their own’ because of some specific characteristics or a particular way to make their beverage socially or culturally. For instance, one community may own the drink because of a specific form of roasting the beans in order to bring a specific flavor and aroma. Another group may own coffee regarding the different methods used for brewing it.
Coffee can also be identified by a particular event in which it is served to the people, the notions and feelings of individuals when they gather to drink it, and the routine used in preparing it. Despite the many cafeterias in the world today, most people drink coffee indoors than outdoors. The beverage has become a culture to represent comfort at home, especially during breakfast and in-between meals, to invigorate the body and boost energy levels. Coffee houses have promoted popularizing the culture by establishing buildings in a specific way that identifies as a coffee house. For instance, the design and appeal to attract clients for particular reasons, as discussed in the next topic.
The Appeal of Coffee Houses
Historically, coffee houses were popular for meetings to discuss politics, traditional events, debates, and entertainment (Wright et al., 2017). One can see that people visited these places for more than just consuming the commodity, hence creating a culture in the name of coffee. Nowadays, cafeterias are still used for social or political gatherings in accordance with the type of meeting. Traore et al. (2018) comment that the location of a restaurant and the clientele that frequents a specific café determine the coffee culture and purpose to the community. For instance, most individuals may visit Starbucks outlets because of prestige and standard; therefore, the customers found there is of the higher society who are self-conscious about their places in the community.
Some people visit a specific coffee house because it is relaxing or they want to be alone. Such places are located in remote areas where the drink’s culture involves discretion and being all-natural. That is, the coffee beans may be roasted directly before brewing to bring a strong aroma in the environment, which is relaxing. Through tranquility in the natural environment, these joints promote interaction of people with the same lifestyle where they can share experiences and even develop social or business bonds (Vogt, 2019).
Individuals who may want to take coffee in between meals as a snack or invigorate the body always visit outlets in zones that serve the product accompanied with snacks. Most of these cafeterias are used for social meetings and conversations between friends and family where everyone knows each other, creating a sense of belonging.
Coffee houses today have established connections with cyber cafes, which provide free or cheaper internet to customers. With the current economic times, more affordable internet is appealing to almost three-quarters of the world population who frequent outlets to study or do research (Aguirre, 2017). The idea of connecting cheaper internet or free access promotes the popularization of these entertainment spots, enhancing the coffee culture globally.
Web communication is also facilitated by internet access, which has made sharing of information, news, and connecting with family and friends from other regions easier. Traore et al. (2018) concluded that coffee culture connects the world to the size of a small village. This is by bridging the interaction gaps by providing cheaper web access to those who cannot afford it, therefore, enhancing the exchange of information effectively. In recent years, another culture of coffee came up in the name of healthy living. Due to the caffeine content that invigorates the body, health specialists recommend consuming the drink to prevent illnesses and boost energy levels. For instance, individuals who may use a lot of energy in their daily activities can benefit from it (Vogt, 2019). Some of the health benefits are discussed below as follows.
Health Benefits of Coffee
Brain Boosting
As an antioxidant, coffee helps in boosting energy levels making consumers have less fatigue. The antioxidant is made up of caffeine which aids in stimulating the nervous system in the body by circulating in the bloodstream, which spreads to the human brain; hence an individual stays active for long periods. According to Samoggia et al. (2020), caffeine acts as an inhibitor of adenosine neurotransmitters, increasing the amount and actions of other neurotransmitters like dopamine that enhance neuro-sensitivity. Studies conducted on the effect of coffee on the human brain indicate that persons who consume coffee have a great memory, are more vigilant, react quickly to situations, and generally have good mental functioning.
Burning Calories
Coffee is a natural remedy for weight loss and burning calories. Suppose an individual is meticulous at observing the supplements that constitute commercial supplements to enhance weight loss. In that case, coffee can be identified as an ingredient in almost all-natural supplements. Caffeine, a component contained in coffee, aids in boosting the rate of metabolism in the digestive system, which increases the ability to lose weight through the digestion of fats and enzymes that cause the accumulation of calories. It has become a solution to many issues related to obesity and weight loss among individuals committed to healthy living. The research by Lee et al. (2017) indicates that caffeine increases metabolism rates by over 7%, and 10% of obese individuals who sought coffee as a means to losing weight had positive outcomes.
Enhanced Physical Performance
A boost in physical performance can relate to the discussion above on enhancing energy levels. Coffee is a stimulant for the whole nervous system where it circulates in the bloodstream and increases the level of adrenaline in the circulatory system. Adrenaline is a hormone for flight or fight reactions in case of emergencies or unexpected situations, which then prepares the body physically for one of the reactions to occur. On average, caffeine enhances physical activity by 10-12%, enabling an individual to stay vital for long hours (Mountain et al., 2020). Various scientific research even recommends consuming coffee before exercising physically.
Essential Nutrients
Coffee intake supplies the body with a lot of essential nutrients. Coffee beans have essential nutrients, which include vitamins B5, B2, and B3. The vitamins occur in the form of pantothenic acid, riboflavin, and Magnesium Niacin, respectively. One cup of coffee to contains 6% B5, 11% B2, and 2% B3 (Samoggia, & Riedel, 2019). Potassium and manganese are also found in small percentages in coffee beans. For people who have more than one cup of coffee in a day, the nutritious supply of these vitamins that they get in a day is very high, leading to a perfectly healthy life.
A Cure for Diabetes 2
Diabetes 2 has become a common health condition, with over a million patients suffering globally. Among the causes of Diabetes2 are obesity, irregular distribution of fats in the body, and a lot of sugar in the bloodstream that cause circulatory disorders. As discussed above, consuming coffee helps in burning fat and reducing weight in obesity cases. Coffee is not a cure but a means of preventing the acquiring of Diabetes 2. According to Samoggia & Riedel (2019), reviews on 20 studies show that individuals who have a habit of drinking coffee have a lower risk of getting Diabetes 2 at 42%.
Preventing Mental Illnesses
Mental illnesses have become a thorn in the health industry, with more patients being recorded every day. The most common mental illness is dementia from Alzheimer’s disease, which causes memory loss, social interactions, and inability to think as it progresses.
Alzheimer’s disease occurs due to disorders in the neurologic system causing atrophy in the brain cells. Although the illness has no cure, doctors recommend living a healthy life and exercising o keep the mind and body fit. A fact to consider is that coffee is more effective in preventing the occurrence of the disease and boosting memory loss in case of advanced symptoms (Cohen, 2021). Statistics show that an average of 35 0ut of 50 individuals past the age of 55 has low chances of having dementia because of regular intake of coffee (Sreedharan et al., 2018). Parkinson’s disease, also a mental illness from neurological disorders, can be prevented by coffee and its products, for example, highly caffeinated drinks.
Source of Antioxidants
The human body contains many forms of free radicals that are constantly attacking the genotype structure. Such attacks can cause damages to the body’s DNA and protein molecules that make up the gene structure. Antioxidants are essential in fighting these free radicals protecting the body from gene mutations, common causes of cancer. Subsequently, antioxidants prevent rapid aging in individuals by controlling the oxidative factors which cause stress.
These elements are found in daily diets from vegetables, fruits, tea, and beverages, among them coffee. Coffee leads globally as the highest source of antioxidants from all foods and drinks, with a single cup containing 150 to 550 milligrams of these constituents (Górecki & Hallmann, 2020). The elements are classified into Hydro cinnamic acids and polyphenols, each with different micronutrients that oxidize and control free radicals (Król Katarzyna et al., 2020). These ingredients prevent diseases like cancer, diabetes 2, and heart diseases, making coffee a daily recommendation for people at risk of suffering from these diseases (Zahra & Saeed, 2017). According to studies on which coffee contains the most of these components, dark beans were more antioxidants than lighter ones with more polyphenols.
Conclusion
The culture of coffee symbolizes the influence of coffee socially and culturally in both the local and global context. The history of coffee, its cultivation, and development, how it is consumed as an individual’s culture shows that coffee is viewed as more than just a stimulating beverage. Coffee has resulted in the development of social and cultural customs, the establishment of industries, the instigation of movements and uprisings, and the advancement of medical treatments and disease prevention, promotion of friendships and family ties, and roused debates and controversies. Coffee culture and practices have shaped the lifestyle that we have today, from social interactions to global and local economies.
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