Coffee, a beverage made from roasted and ground coffee beans, is one of the world's three major beverages, alongside cocoa and tea.

The coffee tree belongs to the Rubiaceae family, and it is a perennial evergreen shrub or small tree. The coffee consumed daily is made using coffee beans combined with various brewing apparatuses.

Coffee beans refer to the seeds inside the fruit of the coffee tree, which are then roasted using suitable methods.

A standard cup of coffee should not taste bitter. A qualified barista meticulously performs each step in the coffee-making process. The coffee served to customers exhibits varying degrees of sweetness, acidity, richness, or cleanliness in terms of taste.

From the wild red fruits atop the green branches of ancient Ethiopian trees to becoming one of the world's three major beverages today, coffee has a history spanning over a thousand years. Behind its rich and aromatic flavor lies a profound history.

Due to the scarcity of historical records about coffee and the lack of reliable archaeological evidence, the origin of coffee is shrouded in many unverifiable legends. We can only seek traces of its history on the banquet tables of history.

Titles like Helen's "Love Potion," the Spartans' "Black Soup," and the tears of the sky god Waka are associated with classic narratives like "The Shepherd Kaldi and the Dancing Goats" and "Sheikh Omar and the Birds," collectively shaping humanity's initial impressions of coffee.

Modern academia generally believes that coffee was possibly first discovered in the 6th century on a fractured slope in Ethiopia, where lush highland vegetation provided an ideal environment for coffee trees. The word "coffee" itself is believed to originate from the nearby town of Kaffa. Physicians Rhazes and Avicenna mentioned coffee as a medicinal drink in their medical texts.

By at least the 14th century, coffee was being consumed as a beverage in the Arabian Peninsula. By the mid-15th century, the habit of drinking coffee had become popular in many regions.

Effects of Coffee on the Body

A recent study published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology provides new evidence that moderate, regular coffee consumption may have health benefits.

This study found that consuming 0.5-3 cups of coffee per day may have a "life-extending" effect, promoting heart health and reducing the risk of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease mortality, and stroke.

Additionally, researchers found that different types of coffee have varying effects on all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease mortality, and stroke risk:

- Compared to non-coffee drinkers, individuals who consumed low-risk coffee in small to moderate amounts and those who consumed high-risk coffee in large amounts had a 16% and 17% lower risk of all-cause mortality, respectively.

- Those who consumed freshly ground coffee in small to moderate amounts daily had a 25% lower risk of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular disease mortality.

- Individuals who consumed large amounts of freshly ground coffee daily experienced the greatest reduction in cardiovascular disease mortality risk, at 49%.

- Regular consumption of instant coffee showed no significant association with all-cause mortality and cardiovascular disease mortality risk.

Coffee's journey from its ancient origins to its modern-day ubiquity reflects not only its profound cultural significance but also its emerging role in promoting health and well-being. As we continue to savor its rich flavors and explore its diverse forms, let us appreciate the intricate tapestry of history, tradition, and science that intertwines within each cup of this beloved beverage.