5 Weird Facts About Coffee You Probably Didn’t Know

We drink it every day, but how well do we really know coffee? At How You Brewin Coffee Company, we’ve compiled a list of what we believe are the most interesting facts about this beloved beverage… some of them might even shock you!  

1. Coffee was Founded by a Goat Herder  

Legend has it that an Ethiopian goat herder named Kaldi stumbled upon the beloved bean with his hungry trip. After snacking on a mysterious red fruit, Kaldi’s goats began acting a little crazy, exhibiting what we now know are the aftereffects of caffeine consumption! 

2. Bach Wrote a Song About Coffee 

Around 1735, famed composer Johann Sebastian Bach wrote a song titled, “Schweigt stille, plaudert nicht,” (Be Still, Stop Chattering). The mini-opera was otherwise known as the “Coffee Cantata'' and tells the story of a disgruntled father who desperately wants his daughter to kick her coffee habit. In a last ditch effort to influence his caffeine-obsessed kin, he gives her a humorous ultimatum: she cannot marry until she gives up the drink. 

3. Beethoven had a Really Precise Cup of Coffee  

Speaking of legendary composers… Ludwig Van Beethoven was so obsessive about his coffee that each cup had to contain an exact count of 60 beans. Some like their coffee with cream, some like it with sugar and some like it with an exact bean count! 

4. High Doses of Coffee are Banned by the NCAA 

Did you know that coffee can increase physical coordination and mental concentration for athletes? The effects of coffee on athletic endurance are so great that some organizations, like the NCAA, have gone so far as to deem it a restricted substance. High doses of coffee (around 6-8 cups) are banned 2-3 hours before an NCAA competition!    

5. Coffee “Beans” are Actually Seeds 

While we call them “beans,” coffee technically comes from seeds. The seed is a pit found within a coffee cherry called cascara. The seed is extracted from the cherry like a pit before it is processed and roasted. The resulting seed resembles a greenish-brown legume, hence how the term “bean” came to be. 

If you already knew any of these five fun facts, we commend you! Even at How You Brewin where coffee is our claim to fame, we learn new things every day about this legendary elixir. From its unique origins, to its prominence throughout history, there is so much more about coffee we can’t wait to uncover and share with you all!