Coffee Curiosities

Behind the seemingly routine act of ordering a coffee lies a story rich in botanical, linguistic, and even military anecdotes. Here are four fascinating facts that will give you a great conversation starter for your next visit to the coffee shop.

1. You’ve Been Fooled: They Aren’t Beans

Even though the entire industry calls them “beans” because of their appearance after roasting, botanically they are not. Coffee is the seed of a fruit. Specifically, they are the inner pit of red or yellow cherries that grow on the coffee plant shrub.

2. The Origin of the Names: Cappuccino and Americano

Coffee terminology carries a strong historical component:

• Capuchino: Its name has nothing to do with the recipe, but with the color. The perfect blend of espresso and steamed milk creates a brownish tone that resembled the robes worn by Capuchin monks in Italy.
• Americano: During World War II, American soldiers stationed in Italy found the local espresso far too strong and concentrated for their taste. To dilute it and make it resemble the drip coffee they were used to back home, they asked for hot water to be added.

3. The First Coffeehouses Were an Alternative to Alcohol

In the 15th century, coffee plants reached Yemen and Arabia. This highly energizing drink, which provided wakefulness and mental clarity, quickly prospered as an excellent social substitute for alcohol in Islamic cultures. By the 16th century, the first public coffeehouses had opened in Constantinople, Syria, and Persia. Word of mouth among European travelers brought this “magical potion” to Europe, paving the way for the first cafés in Venice, Marseille, and London in the 17th century.

4. From “Arabian Wine” to the Word Coffee

The first Europeans to taste it didn’t know how to classify it, so they named it “Arabian wine.”Etymologically, the word comes from the Arabic «qahhwat al-bun» (“wine of the bean”). Over time, it was shortened to «qahwah»which then made its way into Turkish as «kahveh»which Dutch traders adapted into «koffie»and from there it evolved into the «caffe» Italian caffè, and eventually into our modern Spanish “café.”