Coffee is one of the most beloved beverages worldwide, a staple in countless cultures and a daily ritual for millions. While you may know the basics of how coffee is grown or brewed, there are plenty of quirky, surprising, and lesser-known facts about this iconic drink that might catch you off guard. From its mythical origins to its influence on history and science, here are some fascinating coffee curiosities that will deepen your appreciation for your morning cup.
1. Coffee Originated from a Dancing Goats Legen
The discovery of coffee is often attributed to a 9th-century Ethiopian goatherd named Kaldi. According to legend, Kaldi noticed that his goats became unusually energetic and started “dancing” after eating red cherries from a particular tree. Curious, he took the cherries to a local monastery, where the monks experimented with them.
They roasted the beans, ground them, and brewed them into a drink that helped them stay awake during long prayer sessions. While the story of Kaldi may be more myth than fact, Ethiopia is widely recognized as the birthplace of coffee, specifically the Coffea arabica species, which accounts for around 60% of global coffee production today.
2. Coffee Was Once Considered a “Devil’s Drink” in Europe
When coffee first arrived in Europe in the 16th century via Venetian traders, it didn’t receive a warm welcome from everyone. Some religious leaders condemned it as a “bitter invention of Satan” due to its stimulating effects and its origins in the Islamic world.
The controversy grew so intense that Pope Clement VIII was asked to intervene. Before banning it, the Pope decided to taste the beverage himself around 1600. To the surprise of many, he loved it and declared it a Christian drink, saying it was too delicious to be left solely to non-believers. This papal approval helped coffee spread rapidly across Europe, eventually leading to the rise of coffeehouses as social and intellectual hubs.
3. The World’s Most Expensive Coffee Comes from Elephant Dung
One of the most bizarre facts about coffee is that the world’s priciest variety, Black Ivory Coffee, is made using beans that have been eaten and excreted by elephants. Produced in Thailand, this ultra-rare coffee costs around $1,500 to $2,000 per kilogram (approximately $680 to $900 per pound).
The process involves feeding high-quality Arabica cherries to elephants, where the beans undergo natural fermentation in their stomachs for up to 70 hours. This process reduces bitterness and imparts a smooth, chocolatey flavor. Workers then collect the beans from the dung, wash them thoroughly, and roast them. It takes about 33 kilograms of cherries to produce just 1 kilogram of Black Ivory Coffee, making it both rare and expensive.
4. Coffee Helped Fuel the American Revolution
Coffee played a surprising role in American history during the 18th century. Before the American Revolution, tea was the beverage of choice in the British colonies. However, after the infamous Boston Tea Party in 1773, when colonists dumped tea into Boston Harbor to protest British taxes, drinking tea became associated with loyalty to the British Crown.
As a result, coffee emerged as a patriotic alternative, and its consumption soared. John Adams, one of the Founding Fathers, even wrote to his wife in 1774, saying, “I have drank coffee every afternoon since, and have borne it very well. Tea must be universally renounced.” Coffeehouses became gathering spots for revolutionaries to discuss ideas, cementing coffee’s place in American culture.
5. Decaf Doesn’t Mean Caffeine-Free
If you think decaf coffee is entirely free of caffeine, think again. While decaffeinated coffee undergoes a process to remove most of its caffeine content, it still contains a small amount—typically around 2 to 15 milligrams per 8-ounce cup, depending on the brand and brewing method.
For comparison, a regular cup of coffee has about 95 milligrams of caffeine. The decaffeination process, which often involves water, organic solvents, or carbon dioxide to extract the caffeine, can’t remove it all without affecting the flavor. So, if you’re avoiding caffeine entirely, you might still get a tiny buzz from decaf!
6. Coffee Beans Aren’t Actually Beans
Here’s a surprising tidbit: coffee “beans” aren’t beans at all—they’re seeds. The term “bean” stuck because the seeds of the coffee cherry resemble legumes in shape and size, but botanically, they are the pits or seeds of the fruit produced by the Coffea plant.
The coffee cherry, which is red or purple when ripe, contains two seeds (or sometimes one, in the case of peaberry coffee). These seeds are processed, dried, roasted, and ground to create the coffee we know and love. So, the next time you grind your “beans,” you’re actually working with seeds that have traveled a long way to become your morning brew.
7. Coffee Was Once Used as Currency
In some parts of the world, coffee was so valuable that it served as a form of currency. During the 17th and 18th centuries, coffee beans were used as a medium of exchange in regions of Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, where they were highly prized for their rarity and stimulating effects.
Traders would barter coffee beans for goods like spices, cloth, or even livestock. In Ethiopia, coffee’s birthplace, its cultural and economic significance was so profound that it was often used in trade before modern currency systems became widespread. Even today, coffee remains a vital economic resource, often called “black gold” in coffee-producing countries.
8. The Largest Cup of Coffee Ever Made Could Fill a Small Pool
Coffee lovers might dream of a giant cup of their favorite brew, but in 2019, a company in Colombia took it to the extreme. The city of Chinchiná, located in Colombia’s coffee-growing region, set a Guinness World Record for the largest cup of coffee ever made.
The massive cup held 22,739 liters (over 6,000 gallons) of brewed coffee—enough to fill a small swimming pool or serve around 150,000 standard 8-ounce cups! The event was part of a celebration of Colombia’s coffee heritage, and thousands of locals gathered to witness the feat, sipping samples of the record-breaking brew.
9. Coffee Can Grow Your Hair (Sort Of)
Believe it or not, coffee has uses beyond drinking—it might even help with hair growth. Studies have shown that caffeine can stimulate hair follicles and promote growth by counteracting the effects of DHT (dihydrotestosterone), a hormone linked to hair loss.
In lab experiments, applying caffeine directly to the scalp has been found to encourage hair growth in men and women with androgenetic alopecia (pattern baldness). While drinking coffee won’t directly make your hair grow, some shampoos and hair treatments now include caffeine as an ingredient, giving new meaning to the phrase “wake up your hair.”
10. Coffeehouses Were Once Called “Penny Universities”
In 17th- and 18th-century England, coffeehouses were more than just places to grab a cup—they were hubs of intellectual exchange. For just a penny, anyone could buy a cup of coffee and gain access to hours of lively discussion, newspapers, and debates on everything from politics to philosophy.
These coffeehouses became so popular that they were dubbed “penny universities,” offering an informal education to those who couldn’t afford formal schooling. Some of the world’s most influential institutions, like the London Stock Exchange and Lloyd’s of London insurance market, even trace their origins to meetings held in these coffeehouses.
Conclusion: Coffee’s Hidden Wonders
Coffee is far more than a beverage—it’s a cultural touchstone with a rich history and surprising quirks that continue to captivate us. From its mythical beginnings with dancing goats to its role in shaping revolutions and modern science, coffee has woven itself into the fabric of human life in ways most of us never imagine.
The next time you sip your espresso or pour-over, take a moment to appreciate the fascinating journey behind every bean. Who knew that a simple cup of coffee could hold so many stories?