By the time you finish watching this video, eight million cups of coffee will have been consumed around the world. Coffee has been consumed for at least 1,500 years, and some say its impact is so significant that it helped fuel the Enlightenment, a period when many big ideas shaped the world we know today. The main component of coffee is caffeine, which is considered the most widely consumed psychoactive substance on the planet.
So, where does coffee come from?
Coffee originates from the fruit of the Coffea arabica plant, which is native to Ethiopia. A story tells that in the ninth century, a goat herder named Kaldi noticed that his goats were more energetic after eating coffee berries, so he tried them too. Historical records show that the Sufi monks in Yemen roasted the coffee beans to create the beverage we recognize today.
In the 15th century, the first coffee houses began to appear across the Ottoman Empire before spreading to Europe in the following centuries. Coffeehouses in Europe became a place for discussing business, politics, and new ideas. One scholar, Jurgen Habermas, even claimed that without coffee, the Enlightenment might not have happened. Philosophers like Kant and Voltaire—who reportedly drank up to 72 cups of coffee a day—began to question the Catholic Church’s interpretation of the world.
Coffee also contributed to the promotion of the slave trade. The French used African slaves on coffee plantations in Haiti, and by the early 1800s, Brazil was producing a third of the world’s coffee using African slaves.
How does coffee affect the body?
When caffeine enters the digestive system, it is absorbed through the intestines into the bloodstream. But its effects only begin when caffeine reaches the nervous system. Caffeine has a chemical structure similar to adenosine, a substance that slows the sympathetic nervous system and induces sleepiness. By blocking adenosine receptors, caffeine has the opposite effect, increasing alertness, boosting mood, and improving physical performance. These effects can last from 15 minutes to 2 hours.
To optimize the effects of caffeine, experts recommend avoiding coffee in the afternoon so that your morning cup has a stronger impact. The recommended maximum intake for healthy adults is 400mg of caffeine per day, which is equivalent to about 4-5 cups of coffee. Consuming too much can lead to side effects such as insomnia, anxiety, and a rapid heartbeat.
Source: BBC Worldwide