Did You Know?

DID YOU KNOW?
Coffee is the second most commonly traded product in the world after petroleum.  World wide coffee production tips the scales at about 6 million metric tonnes.

DID YOU KNOW?
It takes five years for a coffee tree to reach maturity.  The average yield from one tree is the equivalent of one roasted pound of coffee.

DID YOU KNOW?
Germany is the world’s second largest consumer of coffee in terms of volume at 16 pounds per person.

DID YOU KNOW?
Over 53 countries grow coffee worldwide, but all of them lie along the equator between the tropic of Cancer and Capricorn

DID YOU KNOW?
Australian Arabica coffee is recognised around the world for its unique qualities. Because of the particular micro-climatic condition, Australian Arabica coffee is notably lower in caffeine.

DID YOU KNOW?
Australian Coffee is one of the most naturally produced coffees of the world.  Harmful pesticides are not required since there are no serious pests or diseases that threaten the coffee plant.

DID YOU KNOW?
Up until the 1870’s most coffee was roasted at home in a frying pan over a charcoal fire. 

DID YOU KNOW?
October 1st is the official Coffee Day in Japan.

DID YOU KNOW?
Most coffee is transported by ships. Currently there are approximately 2,200 ships involved in transporting the beans each year.

DID YOU KNOW?
People who buy coffee primarily at a drive-through on their way to work will spend as much as 45 hours a year waiting in line.

DID YOU KNOW?
A Belgian living in Guatemala invented the first instant coffee in 1906 and later immigrated to the United States. His name, ironically enough, was George Washington.

DID YOU KNOW?
Spent ground coffee is a good fertilizer in gardens because of its high nitrogen content. Some coffee shops have a specific policy of giving away their used coffee to gardeners.

DID YOU KNOW?
Coffee diluted in water of four times its volume can be used to amend soil acidity.  It is especially useful for growing tomatoes, chili peppers, blueberries and other plants which like high soil acidity.

DID YOU KNOW?
Some use coffee to create art.  Latte art involves designs in the foam of espresso-based drinks.  Arfé is the use of coffee as a colouring for painting or other visual effects.

Sources:
       www.wikipedia.org
       Chambers, Robert (1869). Chambers' Book of Days for January 27, retrieved February 21, 2006.
       Jacob, Heinrich Eduard: Coffee. The Epic of a Commodity. Short Hills: Burford Books, 1998. ISBN 1-58080-070-X. (Introduction: Lynn Alley).
       (German) Mai, Marina. "Boom für die Bohnen" in Jungle World Nr. 1, 2006/January 4, 2006. ISSN 1613-0766.
       Pendergrast, Mark. Uncommon Grounds: The History of Coffee and How It Transformed Our World, Basic Books, 1999. ISBN 0465054676