Coffee

Coffee (also known as kafee, koofi, or qaxwe) is a hot drink made from the roasted seeds of berries from the coffee plant, to which hot water is added. It is among the most widely consumed beverages in the world and is one of the most important commodities in global agriculture.

Coffee contains caffeine, a substance naturally present in the berries that affects the nervous system, which many drinkers report increases their alertness. For this reason, coffee is part of the daily routine in many countries.

The plant and varieties

Coffee comes from a small tree belonging to the Rubiaceae family. The two commercially most important species are Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora (commonly known as robusta). Arabica is characterized by a milder flavour and lower caffeine content, while robusta has higher caffeine and resists disease and heat better.

History and the African region

The coffee plant originates in the highland areas of Ethiopia, where wild coffee is still found. Use of coffee as a beverage is linked to Yemen and the Red Sea in the late medieval centuries, where the port of Mocha became a renowned trading centre. From there, coffee spread to Arab lands, the Ottoman Empire, and later to Europe and the Americas.

Method of preparation

After picking, the berries are cleaned and dried to remove the pulp, then separated while still green. Roasting creates the coffee's colour and flavour; the temperature and duration of roasting determine whether the coffee becomes light or dark. When ground, it is prepared in various ways: such as finely ground coffee, espresso through pressure, and traditional methods like Arabic coffee served in small cups.

Economy and society

Coffee is an important commodity for the economies of many countries in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Major producing countries include Brazil, Vietnam, Colombia, and Ethiopia. Coffee prices on the global market fluctuate considerably, affecting the income of small-scale farmers. Socially, coffee houses have long been places where people gather and discuss daily affairs.