There are few beverages which inspire the kind of loyalty that coffee does. Coffee lovers are known to be fiercely loyal to their brands, blends and beans, and have helped coffee become the second most traded commodity on earth, surpassed only by oil. For those of us who love this aromatic beverage, here are some interesting facts about coffee.

There is historical evidence which tells us that coffee was first consumed in the 9th century in the highlands of Ethiopia. By the 15th century, coffee had spread to Egypt, Israel, Persia and Africa. From there, it spread to Europe where it first gained popularity in Italy.

Coffee berries grow on trees, which if left uncultivated, will reach a height of about thirty feet. In order to make the berries easier to harvest, they are generally pruned to be less than ten feet tall. In a year, each tree will yield an average of one pound of roasted coffee.

The berries from the coffee tree are picked, dried and stripped, leaving just the green coffee bean. The beans are then roasted at around 500 degrees Fahrenheit. During the roasting process, they will double in size.

In the United States, coffee drinkers consume approximately 3.1 cups per day on average, and fifty-two percent of Americans over the age of eighteen drink coffee every morning. These statistics just serve to underscore the incredible popularity of coffee. With its almost universal appeal, it is a sure bet that it will continue to be one of the worlds favorite beverages.

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