Coffee and Depression: Coffee as an Antidepressant?

You're just trying to get that morning pick me up to get your day going. When you grab that morning cup of java, you're probably not thinking of it as an antidepressant.

It acts on the central nervous system and has mild antidepressant effects. However, recent studies have shown that java really does function as an antidepressant, raising the spirits of people who regularly drink the stuff.

Coffee and depression studies have found that drinking coffee reduced the rate of suicide in the large demographic populations observed.

In this study, a Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program study of 128,934 nurses found that java drinkers were significantly less likely to commit suicide than nondrinkers. The first coffee and depression study that raised the topic of java as an antidepressant was done in 1993.

The study stated that it could be that the coffee itself had little to do with it, but that people who drink coffee share other characteristics that make them less likely to commit suicide. This Nurse's Health Study on coffee and depression did not go so far as to establish a causal relationship between java drinking and the drop in the suicide rate.

A second study on coffee and depression, however, confirmed these controversial findings and went farther as to state that it was the coffee that dropped the suicide rate. This study was especially noteworthy, as it was large-scale and adjusted for a wide range of other factors.

Published in the Archives of Internal Medicine in 1996, the study followed more than 86,000 registered nurses in the United States between 34 and 59 years of age for ten years. Dr. Ichiro Kawachi, an epidemiologist at Harvard Medical School who led this study, looked at the data from the Kaiser Permanente study hoping to discount their findings.

Instead of what he expected to find, he confirmed the original study's results with his own: using coffee as an antidepressant reduced the suicide rate in these nurses.

Dr. Kawachi discovered that the nurses he studied who drank two to three cups of coffee a day were one-third less likely to commit suicide as those who didn't drink any.

The nurses who drank more than four cups a day were 58% less likely to commit suicide than their colleagues who drank less. The coffee and depression study of female nurses found eleven suicides among those who drank two to three cups of caffeinated coffee per day, compared with twenty-one cases of suicide among those who said they almost never drank coffee.

However, Dr. Kawachi and others aren't ready yet to use coffee as an antidepressant for clinical depression. At the minimum, Dr. Kawachi says that his study shows that drinking lots of coffee can't be bad for your health.

Psychiatrists point out that people must understand that depression isn't simply a state of mind; it is a very serious medical issue that cannot be resolved simply by drinking coffee.

And cardiologists, while they recommend to their patients with heart and other health problems to steer clear of caffeine, know that it's not good for a patient's mental health to do so immediately in a cold turkey manner. Instead, they recommend bringing down the coffee consumption gradually in order to avoid a severe state of depression due to the drop in caffeine and other antidepressants in coffee.

Whether it is the caffeine or something else, coffee does seem to have at least a mild antidepressant effect. The caffeine in coffee may have mood-elevating actions through effects on neurotransmitters such as dopamine and acetylcholine.

It is also possible that coffee drinking has social effects, such as increasing personal contacts and time spent socializing, that might reduce thoughts of suicide.

© Copyright Randy Wilson, All Rights Reserved.

The History Of Coffee

Coffee - THE Drink of Choice

Did you know coffee is the most consumed beverage on the planet.

The Beginning of Coffee

Along with these people, other Africans of the same period also have a history of using the coffee berry pulp for more than one occasion like rituals and even for health. It looks as if the first trace came out of Abyssinia and was also sporadically in the vicinity of the Red Sea around seven hundred AD.

It became so popular among the Arabs that they made it their signature Arabian wine and it was used a lot during rituals. Roasting and boiling the bean was how they made this drink. The Arabs started making a drink that became quite popular called gahwa--- meaning to prevent sleep. It is speculated that trade ships brought the coffee their way. Coffee began to get more attention when the Arabs began cultivating it in their peninsulas around eleven hundred AD.

After the coffee bean was found to be a great wine and a medicine, someone discovered in Arabia that you could also make a different dark, delicious drink out of the beans, this happened somewhere around twelve hundred AD. After that it didn't take long and everyone in Arabia was drinking coffee. Everywhere these people traveled the coffee went with them. It made its way around to India, North Africa, the eastern Mediterranean, and was then cultivated to a great extent in Yemen around fourteen hundred AD.

Other countries would have gladly welcomed these beans if only the Arabs had let them. The Arabs killed the seed-germ making sure no one else could grow the coffee if taken elsewhere. Heavily guarding their plants, Yemen is where the main source of coffee stayed for several hundred years. Even with their efforts, the beans were eventually smuggled out by pilgrims and travelers.

Coffee Shops Appear

Around 1475 the first coffee shop opens in Constantinople called Kiv Han two years after coffee was introduced to Turkey, in 1554 two coffee houses open there. People came pouring in to socialize, listen to music, play games and of course drink coffee. Some often called these places in Turkey the "school of the wise", because you could learn so much by just visiting the coffee house and listening to conversations. In the sixteen hundreds coffee enters Europe through the port of Venice. The Turkish warriors also brought the drink to Balkans, Spain, and North Africa. Not too much later the first coffee house opens in Italy.

There were plenty of people also trying to ban coffee. Such as Khair Beg a governor of Mecca who was executed and Grand Vizir of the Ottoman Empire who successfully closed down many coffee houses in Turkey. Thankfully not everyone thought this way.

Coffee Tips Arrive

In the early sixteen hundreds coffee is presented to the New World by man named John Smith. Later in that century, the first coffee house opens in England. Coffee houses or "penny universities" charged a penny for admission and for a cup of coffee. The word "TIPS" (for service) has it's origin from an English coffee house.

Early in the 17th century, Edward Lloyd's coffee house opens in England. The Dutch became the first to commercially transport coffee. The first Parisian café opens in 1713 and King Louis XIV is presented with a lovely coffee tree. Sugar is first used as an addition to coffee in his court.

The America's Have Coffee

Coffee plants were introduced in the Americas for development. By close to the end of the seventeen hundreds, 1,920 million plants are grown on the island.

Evidently the eighteen hundreds were spent trying to find better methods to make coffee.

The Coffee "Brew" in the 20th Century

New methods to help brewing coffee start popping up everywhere. The first commercial espresso machine is developed in Italy. Melitta Bentz makes a filter using blotting paper. Dr. Ernest Lily manufactures the first automatic espresso machine. The Nestle Company invents Nescafe instant coffee. Achilles Gaggia perfects the espresso machine. Hills Bros. begins packing roasted coffee in vacuum tins eventually ending local roasting shops and coffee mills. A Japanese-American chemist named Satori Kato from Chicago invents the first soluble "instant" coffee.

German coffee importer Ludwig Roselius turns some ruined coffee beans over to researchers, who perfected the process of removing caffeine from the beans without destroying the flavor. He sells it under the name Sanka. Sanka is introduced in the United States in 1923.

George Constant Washington an English chemist living in Guatemala, is interested in a powdery condensation forming on the spout of his silver coffee flask. After checking into it, he creates the first mass-produced instant coffee which is his brand name called Red E Coffee.

Prohibition goes into effect in United States. Coffee sales suddenly increase. Brazil asked Nestle to help find a solution to their coffee surpluses so the Nestle Company comes up with freeze-dried coffee. Nestle also made Nescafe and introduced it to Switzerland.

Other Interesting Coffee Tidbits

Today the US imports 70 percent of the world's coffee crop. During W.W.II, American soldiers were issued instant Maxwell House coffee in their ration kits.

In Italy, Achilles Gaggia perfects his espresso machine. The name Cappuccino comes from the resemblance of its color to the robes of the monks of the Capuchin order.

One week before Woodstock, the Manson family murders coffee heiress Abigail Folger as she visits with her friend Sharon Tate in the home of filmmaker Roman Polanski.

Starbuck's Hits the Coffee World

Starbucks opens its first store in Seattle's Pike Place public market in 1971. This creates madness over fresh-roasted whole bean coffee. Coffee finally becomes the world's most popular beverage. More than 450 billion cups are sold each year by 1995.

The Current Coffee Trends

Drink and enjoy! Researchers are even finding many health benefits to drinking coffee. There's no sign of coffee consumption decreasing. We have really come a long way even with our coffee making machines. Now in the 21st century we have many different styles, grinds, and flavors of coffee.

History of the Coffee and Espresso Machine

Without these machines, we probably wouldn't see such a large population that can easily and affordably prepare these common drinks. We are all aware of the fact that coffee and espresso machines, themselves. A large percentage of the population loves to drink both gourmet coffee and espresso drinks.

Where did the coffee maker come from?

The first method of bean preparation was to roast the beans on an open fire and then added to boiling water for consumption. Though the Coffee bean originated in Africa, it quickly spread to neighboring countries, like Arabia and Egypt. Since the days of the early Egyptians, coffee has been a staple beverage for most people.

Fermented in much the same as grapes, coffee was a source of energy and warmth for most, but some drank it because they loved the taste, too. It is believed that coffee was probably considered a type of wine and used to barter and trade.

The coffee machine was actually a product that had just as many patents by women as men, that was practically unheard of at that time! The machine was constantly modified by coffee drinkers. Laurens came up with the first coffee-making machine in 1818. A man by the name of Mr.

Through the years, the coffee machine has become a reliable, dependable and easy to use product. In the 1960's, the first filter machines were invented and the modifications have improved even more since then. Coffee making machines began as crude looking inventions, but have evolved into many different styles, making it possible for a Governor and a Harley biker to own the same style! Found in just about every home, the coffee machine is made by many manufacturers, including: Braun, Senseo, Kitchenaid, Krups and Pod.

Where did the espresso machine come from?

Discovered by a goat herder and developed by a tired, hungry traveler, the espresso drink has provided many with the extra energy they may need. The goat herder noticed the goats acting like they had an extreme boost of energy. As he searched for his heard, he noticed they were snacking on a red berry growing from shrubs. Curious, he ate a berry and felt as if he had suddenly gained more energy as a result. At the same time, a tired, hungry traveler witnesses the occurrences and jumped at the chance to try it for himself. Having the same reactions as the herder and goats, he knew that they were on to something. He took some berries and began to add them to drinks for those in his hometown, as the drink seemed to be a good source of energy. The idea took off from there!

The first espresso maker is said to have originated in Italy in 1901, by Italian manufacturing company owner, Lugia Bezzer. He was simply looking for a way to help speed up his employee's coffee breaks. He figured out that if pressure was applied in the brewing process, the drink could be made in a lot less time. Nicknamed "The fast coffee machine", the espresso machine patent was sold in 1905. The new owner, Desidero Pavoni developed an espresso machine that used a piston pump to force water through a tube and into the coffee.

Modifications on the espresso machine has come a long way!

Coffee Shops

But have you ever wondered when the first coffee shop started? For most harried career individuals, a visit to their coffee shops for a nightcap with friends and business associates is their idea of a relaxing evening.

It quickly grew in popularity, and by 1675, three thousand coffeehouses were born in England. Boston welcomed its own version of this haven for coffee lovers in 1670, while Paris opened the doors of its first-ever coffee shop in 1671. The first coffee shop opened in Istanbul, Turkey, in 1554, while the first coffeehouse opened in Cornhill, London, in 1652.

Its success was akin to that of tobacco in seventeenth-century Europe. The first coffee plantation in modern times was started in Brazil, in 1727, using slave laborers from Africa. A more credible version asserts that the first coffee shop opened in Krakow, in the sixteenth or seventeenth century, owing to its close trade ties with the Turks. The coffeehouse was started using supplies left behind by the losing Turks. As the legend goes, the first coffeehouse was believed to have opened in Vienna in 1683, after the Battle of Vienna.

For the French, Spanish, and German people, a café is a place where a wide variety of beverages are served, ranging from different types of coffee, tea, and alcoholic beverages. In the Netherlands, the term coffee shop is used to refer to places where marijuana is sold, since one needs fewer permits to open a coffee shop. The Dutch people associate the word with bars and thus relate it more to alcohol. The term "Café" is synonymous with a place where coffee and meals are served together.

Visit your favorite coffee shop and take your pick from among these wonderful concoctions, sure to warm your hearts and lift your spirits. What are you waiting for? In addition to those blended commercially, a lot of coffeehouses have their own signature house blends.

About Coffee

Even today there is controversy surrounding coffee as to whether it is good for the health or not and a new study seems to be published each week either defending or condemning this drink. At first coffee beans were sold by pharmacists and then by coffee houses which became popular for revolution and enlightened thinking. As coffee traveled from Constantinople to Venice and then to Vienna and other European capitals it was banned repeatedly. Here coffee was widely consumed by the populous but condemned by the Islamic leaders because of its supposed intoxicating effects. The coffee plant was first cultivated commercially in the Arab world in the fifteenth century.

Robusta beans have twice the caffeine of Arabica beans but less flavor. The Arabica beans are named for the Arabs who first grew them and are the better of the two. Commercial coffee beans belong to two main groups, Arabica and robusta. When picked coffee beans are green and do not acquire the familiar brown color and intoxicating aroma until they are roasted.

On the other hand most coffee beans sold in coffee specialty shops are Arabica. Supermarket coffee blends are usually made up of mostly Robusta beans with a few Arabica to add some flavor.

Today the word Mocha has come to mean a flavor combination of coffee and chocolate, but actually has nothing to do with Mocha beans which are rare and expensive. Named after the Yemeni Port from which the coffee was once shipped to the rest of the world. The prized of these are the true Mochas. Africa, the birthplace of coffee still grow coffee with wild flowers that coffee lovers prize. But there is a small amount grown in the Hawaiian Islands and some in Yemen on the Red Sea. Africa, Indonesia and Central and South America are the three main regions where coffee is grown.

This coffee is almost impossible to find in America as the Japanese buy almost all the tiny annual production and if it can be found it is extremely expensive. Coffee produced in Central America (particularly Guatemala and Costa Rica) are of real interest to coffee connoisseurs because many of the beans from these regions offer the balance and smoothness that made Jamaica's Blue Mountain coffee legendary. Many good coffees also come from the island of Papua New Guinea. Indonesian coffees are popular for their body and earthy flavor. Another favorite, Africa Coffee is from Kenya, a country that produces many superlative beans.

One third of the coffee drunk worldwide is grown in Brazil but almost none of it is of any interest to coffee connoisseurs.

Colombia has put money and research into its coffee industry but unfortunately its beans are rarely exceptional.

If you prefer a flavored coffee a better idea is to brew good coffee from unflavored beans and dose it modestly with one or more of the flavoring essences that can be purchased at many gourmet shops. If these flavored beans are ground at home they will impart their flavors, possibly forever, on to your grinder and brewing apparatus. The flavored coffees that are becoming increasingly popular are usually based on bland, mediocre beans that are stirred with chemical flavoring essences after roasting.

Short History of Coffee

Who would have thought that a berry that was discovered by a herd of goats would be the single most important ingredient in the world’s most popular drink? Legend has it that back in 850AD, a goat herder noticed his herd was full of energy and eating berries he had never noticed. Since the goats seemed to have such a reaction, the herder decided to give it a try! The berries also gave him a burst of energy and he began to feel very happy. Thus, the beginning of the journey for what is now known as coffee!

Actually, the story of the goat herder isn’t the only legend surrounding this discovery. It is also said that an Arabian man was banished to the deserts with his followers to die of starvation. His men became very desperate for nourishment and before long, they were boiling and eating the product of an unknown tree. The broth that was produced by this unknown substance saved the lives of the men! In the nearest town, Mocha, many took their survival to be a religious sign. Because of the discovery, the drink was then named Mocha.

No matter which story you gravitate to, the bottom line is the same: the berries (actually, the seed of the berry) gave energy and zest to all that would consume it! From it’s earliest beginnings, coffee was thought of as a delicacy and any recipes floating around were considered to be a closely guarded secret!

As time passed, the very first coffee trees were harvested around 1100, in the Arabian Peninsula. The coffee drink became a staple of many early civilizations. In the year 1453, There was a law in Turkey that said that a woman could divorce her husband if he didn’t supply her with a daily supply of coffee!

The very first known coffee shop was established in Constantinople around the year of 1475 and since that initial introduction to the general public, coffee has pretty much taken over the world! Between 1600-1700, there were many advancements, including the world’s first coffee house and the beginnings of commercial production (made by the Dutch). By the middle 1700’s, there were about 2000 coffee shops in Venice, alone!

The first prototype of an espresso machine (made in Italy) was unveiled in the early 1800’s. In the early 1900’s, the first drip coffee makers were invented, making the coffee making process a little less daunting! Automatic espresso machines began their journey in the 1930’s.

By the late 1900’s, coffee became the most popular beverage in the world! The coffee is harvested in many countries, including: Africa, Ethiopia, Brazil, North America, Italy and even Turkey. This kind of crop can also be easily grown and exported by many third world countries, as well. Made to tempt even the pickiest palate, coffee has evolved to include hundreds of flavors and varying grades and prices.

C V is a freelance writer, providing articles and information on all types

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coffee break small daily timeless pleasure

The first coffee in Europe seems to be come even around 900 - 1000 AD thanks to the many ships that brought unknown goods from all parts. Around this drink have created many legends and folk traditions there who says that already the time of Homer, in the city of Troy, used coffee. One thing certain is what he sees sip this dark drink, become, in what is today Yemen, a real custom, even supported by the government that praised its energy quality. At first the coffee was also used for its digestive and medical properties and also for this its price was immediately quite high. For Europe is somewhat 'say that certainly the first coffee came through the Venetian traders, in 1615, especially remembers Prospero Alpini, botanist, physician of Venice’s console, who studied the drink and brought to the knowledge of the Venice’s city. Today we find yet “Caffè Florian”, one of the oldest coffee’s shop, under the arcades of St Mark’s Square, Venice, which even then to disseminate this drink, did distribute a text that praised properties. In today's hectic life can not miss the time for coffee break and is in the workplace as in our homes and in bars has become increasingly demanding, for this reason, coffee machines and drink machines are now becoming increasingly technological equipment and we don’t count more versions and variations, all designed to enhance quality in its various aroma of coffee. We find so espresso professional machines, but also those semi-or for private consumption; are available automatic drink espresso machines that allow enjoy anytime of the day, both in workspace and along a corridor, each variant of espresso coffee, barley, decaffeinated. In the new models of coffee machines for domestic use are lines of innovative and elegant design because the machine also expressed become an object of furniture and enriches every environment, joining an increasingly sophisticated technology in making coffee to a design increasingly minimalist. For use in the workplace, very comfortable and versatile are the drink machines, machines that allow fully automated, simply by inserting coins of small denomination, to have ready in a few seconds a hot or cold drink, depending on the request. In these machines the hot drink sugared already exits, with the amount preset and there is a small stick to turn sugar. Now all distributors have the use of key for those who normally use the machine or give the rest to those who are just passing through. In every place, at home or at work, the coffee break is around the corner, the hot drink that hides traditions and ancient stories is a daily pleasure that today, thanks to technological development in machinery and in drink machines, you can consume comfortably in any environment.

The first coffee in Europe seems to be come even around 900 - 1000 AD thanks to the many ships that brought unknown goods from all parts. Around this drink have created many legends and folk traditions there who says that already the time of Homer, in the city of Troy, used coffee.One thing certain is what he sees sip this dark drink, become, in what is today Yemen, a real custom, even supported by the government that praised its energy quality.At first the coffee was also used for its digestive and medical properties and also for this its price was immediately quite high. For Europe is somewhat 'say that certainly the first coffee came through the Venetian traders, in 1615, especially remembers Prospero Alpini, botanist, physician of Venice’s console, who studied the drink and brought to the knowledge of the Venice’s city.In every place, at home or at work, the coffee break is around the corner, the hot drink that hides traditions and ancient stories is a daily pleasure that today, thanks to technological development in machinery and in drink machines, you can consume comfortably in any environment.

the history of coffee

Thus, the beginning of the journey for what is now known as coffee! The berries also gave him a burst of energy and he began to feel very happy. Since the goats seemed to have such a reaction, the herder decided to give it a try! The berries also gave him a burst of energy and eating berries he had never noticed. Since the goats seemed to have such a reaction, the herder decided to give it a try! Legend has it that back in 850AD, a goat herder noticed his herd was full of energy and eating berries he had never noticed. Who would have thought that a berry that was discovered by a herd of goats would be the single most important ingredient in the world’s most popular drink? Because of the discovery, the drink was then named Mocha. In the nearest town, Mocha, many took their survival to be a religious sign. The broth that was produced by this unknown substance saved the lives of the men! His men became very desperate for nourishment and before long, they were boiling and eating the product of an unknown tree. It is also said that an Arabian man was banished to the deserts with his followers to die of starvation. Actually, the story of the goat herder isn’t the only legend surrounding this discovery. From its earliest beginnings, coffee was thought of as a delicacy and any recipes floating around were considered to be a closely guarded secret! No matter which story you gravitate to, the bottom line is the same: the berries (actually, the seed of the berry) gave energy and zest to all that would consume it! As time passed, the very first coffee trees were harvested around 1100, in the Arabian Peninsula. The coffee drink became a staple of many early civilizations. In the year 1453, There was a law in Turkey that said that a woman could divorce her husband if he didn’t supply her with a daily supply of coffee! The very first known coffee shop was established in Constantinople around the year of 1475 and since that initial introduction to the general public, coffee has pretty much taken over the world! Between 1600-1700, there were many advancements, including the world’s first coffee house and the beginnings of commercial production (made by the Dutch). By the middle 1700’s, there were about 2000 coffee shops in Venice, alone! The first prototype of an espresso machine (made in Italy) was unveiled in the early 1800’s. In the early 1900’s, the first drip coffee machine was invented, making the coffee making process a little less daunting! The automatic espresso maker began its journey in the 1930’s. By the late 1900’s, coffee became the most popular beverage in the world! The coffee is harvested in many countries, including: Africa, Ethiopia, Brazil, North America, Italy and even Turkey. This kind of crop can also be easily grown and exported by many third world countries, as well. Made to tempt even the pickiest palate, coffee has evolved to include hundreds of flavors and varying grades and prices.

Thus, the beginning of the journey for what is now known as coffee! Legend has it that back in 850AD, a goat herder noticed his herd was full of energy and he began to feel very happy. Who would have thought that a berry that was discovered by a herd of goats would be the single most important ingredient in the world’s most popular drink?Because of the discovery, the drink was then named Mocha. In the nearest town, Mocha, many took their survival to be a religious sign. The broth that was produced by this unknown substance saved the lives of the men! His men became very desperate for nourishment and before long, they were boiling and eating the product of an unknown tree. It is also said that an Arabian man was banished to the deserts with his followers to die of starvation. Actually, the story of the goat herder isn’t the only legend surrounding this discovery.From its earliest beginnings, coffee was thought of as a delicacy and any recipes floating around were considered to be a closely guarded secret! No matter which story you gravitate to, the bottom line is the same: the berries (actually, the seed of the berry) gave energy and zest to all that would consume it!

why join a coffee of the month club

Have you ever wondered why people join coffee of the month clubs?  There are many benefits and types of coffee to be explored with these clubs.  This article will give you some idea of what coffee of the month clubs?  There are many benefits and types of coffee to be explored with these clubs.  This article will give you some idea of what coffee of the month club.

Brief History of Coffee

Brief History of Coffee

 

 

In 1475 the world’s first coffee shop opens in Constantinople.  In 1995 it was estimated that 400 billions cups of coffee were consumed a yearly.  Other monks drank the brew and are able to stay alert for their long devotional and prayer times.  So begins the history of coffee. A monk sees this and takes some of the berries to a monastery to make a brew with the berries. Upon seeing the goats become friskier after eating these berries Kaldi of Ethiopia decides to try the berries.  He feels much frisker after eating the berries. It tells of a young goat herder in Ethiopia watching his goats eat red berries. One of the first legends about coffee comes from around c850.

What are Coffee of the Month Clubs?

What are Coffee of the Month Clubs?

 

 

Today the coffee you can brew in your home can compare in taste to great coffee shops. Generally, coffee of the month clubs are a means of having a great tasting coffee delivered to your home through the mail each month.  Not only is coffee offered but tea and other items are offered as well.  Coffee of the month clubs will generally give something free to get you to try their great tasting coffee.  The free item is not a gimmick just to get you to join the club but a means of letting these companies demonstrate their great tasting coffee and other products that they have to offer.  Most of the coffee of the month clubs will send you coffee once a month after you have received your free gifts.  Good coffee of the month clubs will usually let you cancel your membership whenever you want. You still keep the free gift in most cases.  Now, think how many people will cancel after receiving their free gift.  For coffee companies this is an expensive marketing tool. If they did not feel that their coffee was of a high enough quality they could not afford to give free items away.

Benefits of Joining a Coffee of the Month Club

Benefits of Joining a Coffee of the Month Club

 

 

Coffee of the month clubs provide individuals with great coffees every month without having to go to a crowded store to purchase a good coffee.  Most coffee of the month clubs will have specials for each month that add to the value of belonging to their club.  You can make coffee at home that will compare with what you receive at coffee shops any time that you want and at a great cost savings as well.  Not only do you save on gas but you also save on the cost of this prepared coffee. This is especially helpful for people who want their special coffee every day.  Think about these savings and what else you might purchase with the money you save.  Most clubs will have information that is enjoyable to read and helpful in preparing that special coffee or tea.  You can still get together with others for coffee in your home.

Finding a coffee of the month clubs offer coffees in the caffeinated and decaffeinated flavors and blends.  They may also offer teas and other items that can be found in coffee shops.  What better way to have that special cup in the morning than in your robe curled up in a favorite chair?

history of the coffee bean

And to many of us - it's simply what we need to get us started in the morning. Coffee today is produced in over 50 countries and is the second most valuable export after oil. Whether you call it java, mud or a shot in the arm, an estimated 2 billion cups are consumed every day around the world - making coffee the most popular drink in the world. Shepherds consumed the coffee by grounding the beans and mixing them with animal fat. One legend has it that a goat herder in Ethiopia observed his goats eating coffee berries and he decided to taste them himself - noting the stimulating effect. Coffee is older than most people think - archaeological evidence suggests that humans were enjoying the taste of the coffee berry around a hundred thousand years ago. Arabia controlled the coffee trade for many centuries as they introduced a law that prohibited the exporting of beans that could germinate. By around 600 AD, the coffee bean on plantations - they called their new concoction qahwa meaning "that which prevents sleep". Despite this restriction, the coffee bean somehow found its way throughout the Middle East - to Persia (now Iran), Egypt and parts of Northern Africa. Coffee beans also found their way to the Mysore area of India - where descendants of those original plants flourished until the early 20th century. In many cases, the beans were literally smuggled out of Arabia. At first, coffee was not enjoyed for its taste, but more as a supplement or source of nutrition. When the coffee bean found its way to Turkey, the Turks began to drink it for its flavor - frequently adding such things as cinnamon or anise. The Turks were also the first to roast the beans over fires and boil the crushed beans in water. And what is generally considered to be the world's first coffee shop was opened in Istanbul - known as Constantinople at the time - in the 15th century. The Dutch were the first to transport and cultivate coffee beans on a commercial basis. With coffee beans smuggled out of Arabia, they established plantations in Ceylon and one of their colonies - Java. Today, Indonesia is the world's third largest producer of coffee. The coffee bean was introduced to Europe during the 17th century. At one point, the beverage was more popular than tea in England and was used as an antidote to the widespread alcoholism of the time. Coffee houses sprang up in such places as Vienna, Paris and London, frequented by the wealthy and fashionable. The Austrians are credited with the practice of adding milk and sugar to coffee. In France, Louis XIV built greenhouses to protect his precious coffee beans from frost. And in the New World, coffee was also a popular drink - the newly formed American colonies declared coffee to be the national drink. Not everybody approved; the Catholics declared coffee should be banned - despite the Pope confessing to being an avid coffee drinker. Today, there are actually more than 60 varieties of coffee in the world, although the beans used for coffee are one of two types - Robusta and Arabica. Around 75% of coffee beans produced are Arabica and are cultivated in Brazil and Central America. Robusta beans produce a stronger blend of coffee and are cultivated in parts of Asia and Africa as well as Brazil. Chances are high that your coffee beans come from Brazil, the world's largest producer of coffee. Brazil produces almost 30% of the world's coffee and also has some of the most advanced processing techniques in the world. In 2006, the gross value of coffee production in Brazil was almost 5 billion dollars and the industry employs several million workers. Coffee isn't usually associated with Asia, but several Asian countries have started to cultivate the coffee bean. In recent years, Vietnam has become a large producer and some of the African coffee producing countries still produce excellent coffee - in particular Kenya and Tanzania Some countries have also started to cultivate specialized coffee beans - Kenya produces a fruity coffee and Indonesia produces the Kopi Luwak - a coffee bean that has been passed through the digestive system of a civet. And Ethiopia - where the coffee bean was perhaps first discovered - is home to a bean that produces a coffee flavored with chocolate, ginger and orange. So whether you prefer your coffee beans with milk, with sugar, strong or with no caffeine - take a moment and enjoy a cup of the world's most popular drink.

And to many of us - it's simply what we need to get us started in the morning. Coffee today is produced in over 50 countries and is the second most valuable export after oil. Whether you call it java, mud or a shot in the arm, an estimated 2 billion cups are consumed every day around the world - making coffee the most popular drink in the world.Shepherds consumed the coffee by grounding the beans and mixing them with animal fat. One legend has it that a goat herder in Ethiopia observed his goats eating coffee berries and he decided to taste them himself - noting the stimulating effect. Coffee is older than most people think - archaeological evidence suggests that humans were enjoying the taste of the coffee berry around a hundred thousand years ago.Arabia controlled the coffee trade for many centuries as they introduced a law that prohibited the exporting of beans that could germinate. By around 600 AD, the coffee bean on plantations - they called their new concoction qahwa meaning "that which prevents sleep".So whether you prefer your coffee beans with milk, with sugar, strong or with no caffeine - take a moment and enjoy a cup of the world's most popular drink.

curious coffee facts coffee is the second most traded product after oil

Coffee is part of our daily lives and we definitely love it, but were things always like that? How popular was coffee during its first days in the Western world? Among the first coffee facts that have been preserved over the centuries it is impressive to know how it was banned from the Christian world as the devil's drink.

Coffee actually reached Europe as a result of the flourishing commerce the Venetians had with the Eastern countries, and they brought it from Constantinople where it was kept very high in esteem as being an incredibly tasty drink. Christian priests at the time argued against any positive coffee facts that it was a drink given to the infidels by Satan as a substitute for wine which had been forbidden to them.

Historic coffee facts indicate that it wasn't until the 16th century that this now so popular drink was blessed by the pope and commerce started to develop. At the end of the 1500s, Europe actually saw the creation of the first coffee houses, and the former banishing of this drink remained in the past and the subject of popular anecdotes.

Coffee facts show that presently this drink has gained such a great prominence that people are actually celebrating a special coffee day; moreover in terms of commercial importance we need to say that coffee is the second most traded product after oil. Among the many curious coffee facts we need to mention that there are hundreds of coffee varieties growing all over the world, nevertheless, only two are largely cultivated for economic purposes: Arabica and Robusta.

A fully-grown coffee tree will remain in production for up to forty years once it starts to produce coffee beans, not to mention that it only takes five years to become fertile. Though, Brazil is the largest coffee producer in the world, there are plenty other geographical areas suitable for the cultivation of this very important tree: Java, Mexico, some Caribbean islands, India, Thailand, Indonesia, Tanzania, Kenya or Cameroon.

Among the most surprising coffee facts we should mention here, one is related to the increased flavor of the coffee beans that results from the roasting process. The secret behind the exquisite taste lies in the presence of sugar within the internal structure of coffee beans; during the roasting process, this sugar gets caramelized which intensifies the overall flavor and delights every coffee lover.

coffee houses little known facts that you probably didnt know about coffee houses

Besides serving food and beverages, coffee houses are great places to interact socially with other people, read, write, do homework or just pass time. Providing coffee, tea, light snacks and lunch type food they offer a great mishmash of both. Coffee houses, when you think about it, are very similar to bars and restaurants. People would go to them to drink coffee or tea, listen to music, play games like chess and backgammon and read. In fact, since the 16th century they've been prominent in the Middle East. While one would typically think that coffee houses started in Italy, but that isn't the case. Shortly thereafter, others started springing up in places like Cairo and Istanbul. In 1530, the first coffee house opened in Damascus. It wasn't until the 17th century that coffee first made an appearance in Europe. The first recorded coffee house in Italy opened shop in 1645. This was followed by the first coffee house in England, in Oxford, in 1650. After that, they spread like wildfire, hitting America in 1670 in Boston. Charles II wasn't a fan of coffee houses, and tried to discourage people in London from going to them by characterizing them as places where the disaffected met and spread scandalous reports concerning the conduct of His Majesty and his Ministers. Instead of keeping people away, people flocked to them. Coffee houses were open to people of all socioeconomic backgrounds, and became associated with equality. That said, women weren't allowed into them. Also, many churches used them for outreach purposes, gaining membership and spreading the word of God. Bob Dylan got his start running the coffee house circuit, as did the Beats. In American coffee houses in the 1960s, musicians and poets had found a home. Later on, this obviously ceased to be the case.

Besides serving food and beverages, coffee houses are great places to interact socially with other people, read, write, do homework or just pass time. Providing coffee, tea, light snacks and lunch type food they offer a great mishmash of both. Coffee houses, when you think about it, are very similar to bars and restaurants.People would go to them to drink coffee or tea, listen to music, play games like chess and backgammon and read. In fact, since the 16th century they've been prominent in the Middle East. While one would typically think that coffee houses started in Italy, but that isn't the case.Shortly thereafter, others started springing up in places like Cairo and Istanbul. In 1530, the first coffee house opened in Damascus.Also, many churches used them for outreach purposes, gaining membership and spreading the word of God. Bob Dylan got his start running the coffee house circuit, as did the Beats. In American coffee houses in the 1960s, musicians and poets had found a home. Later on, this obviously ceased to be the case.