Is Coffee a Universal Drink? (Solved & Explained!)

Coffee is considered to be a universal drink because it has become popular throughout a vast majority of civilizations, historically, from first world to third world countries. Different countries have different coffee flavoring specialties and a variety of restaurants and fast-food restaurants that serve a plethora of coffee types and flavors. 

In consideration of a multitude of tasty and caffeinated drinks that are served in the world, coffee has to be one of the most popular, well-known, and consumed among the many.

The following will be an overview of coffee and its universal presence, popularity, and other answers to your burning hot coffee-related questions.

What is a universal drink?

A universal drink would be a drink that, despite cultural and economic differences, can be consumed and popularized throughout all demographics of people.

Some drinks like tea, coffee, and alcoholic beverages will always be consumed and popular throughout civilizations.

Why is Coffee so popular?

Caffeine is the supporting factor that allows for coffee to be as popular as it is. It was originally consumed and harvested for those very reasons. Caffeine aids people in feeling more energized and awake.

Notably, caffeine is what makes coffee so addictive. The compounds within caffeine create unhealthy positive attachments within the brain. This is why even the least tasty cup of joe will make you happy and energized; as caffeine is what keeps you yearning for the beans regardless of flavor.

Lastly, despite a majority of our liking being reinforced by caffeine, coffee is undeniably tasty. Coffee can be served in a variety of forms, flavors, all in variable aesthetically pleasing manners.

As a result, there are billions of coffee lovers all over the world, all with different favorite roasts and styles of which they can customize to their ideal cup of coffee.

Is Coffee the most popular drink in the world?

Coffee is considered to be the second most popular beverage in the entire world. Coming in second place with water being number one.

In fact, in the USA approximately more than 450 million cups of coffee are consumed by the American people per day!

Furthermore, tea and coffee have both been linked to and proven to be healthy for the body in moderation. Making these tasty and energizing beverages just that much better!

Where is Coffee most popular?

Coffee is most popular in Finland. It is estimated that the average person consumes 12 kilograms of coffee beans a year.

When did Coffee become popular?

In America, Coffee became significantly popular in the late seventeenth hundreds, at the time of the “Boston Tea Party” of 1773. It was as a result of this that Americans would switch from tea to coffee as a sort of patriotic stance.

The consumption of coffee would become even more popular in America and other countries during the time period of the Civil War. It became a universal drink amongst soldiers, because it was compact, easy to make, and gave them the energy they needed to push forward with their assigned tasks and duties.

Whether it be for delicacy, energy, or necessity, since its original discovery in Ethiopia, coffee continues to grow in popularity exponentially.

Is Coffee more popular than tea?

Coffee and tea come in neck and neck. Coffee is considered to be the second most-consumed drink next to the water, however, other statistics put tea above coffee as a result of eastern consumption of tea.

One thing for certain is that coffee is more popular than tea in Western Civilizations, and that coffee and tea are two of the three most popular beverages internationally.

Why is Coffee so tasty?

Once we put the flavor and accessories aside, we recognize that people love the taste of coffee as a result of psychological reinforcement. The body acquires a considerable amount of caffeine through coffee, and the brain eventually associates the dopamine and energy you receive from caffeine with the taste of coffee. This association makes your brain creates positive stimulation throughout the brain, which first registers with your taste receptors.

How has Coffee changed and developed over the years?

There is a multitude of kinds of coffee beans. It is for this reason that there are so many types of coffee prior to any additional flavoring or development we see from fast food and modern-day coffee consumption.

The most common and popular coffee beans are Arabica, Robusta, Liberica, and Excelsa. These coffee beans grow in hot climates, near and slightly past the equator, through what is commonly referred to as “The Coffee Bean Belt”. It is as a result of this that around 20 billion pounds of coffee are manufactured in “the coffee bean belt” every year.

60% of the coffee consumed globally is Arabica. Commonly harvested in Latin America and is best known for its smooth, sweet, fruity-like, and nearly sharp acidic taste. These coffee bean plants take about 7 years on average to fully mature.

The second most common is Robusta, which is the sort of coffee that you will find most often in supermarkets; instant coffee from Starbucks and coffee packs from other companies. Robusta is known for its heightened amount of caffeine. As a result, they are also far more bitter than Arabica.

A Brief History of Coffee:

Coffee bean plants are native to Ethiopia. The first place for coffee beans to be roasted and turned into coffee purposefully was in Yemen.

Through the 15th century, it is found that Muslim communities consumed coffee consistently in Yemen. Consumption of this product allowed for them to stay awake longer through the religious practices/long ceremonies. The coffee they consumed was thus imported from Ethiopia.

It was during the 1600s that this drink would find itself in Europe. The Netherlands was the first European country to develop coffee plantations which were established in Sri Lanka.

The dutch would also participate in these trades and consumptions necessary from India during the 17th century. Other European countries would proceed as follows and spread these beans all over the country.

Fun Fact: At one point in time our universally beloved drink was considered to be “The Devil’s Drink” by Christians. Coffee was originally developed in predominantly Islamic countries, and thus, traveling and colonizing Christians were unsettled by the effects of this drink and deemed it a demonic drink.

It was only until 700 years later that the Pope at the time would decree otherwise, rather than banning the beverage from Christian consumption based upon no scientific or religious rebuttal.

Is coffee unhealthy?

For a vast majority of people, coffee is not considered to be unhealthy and can be a part of an everyday healthy diet. With that being said, no more than 2 – 5 cups a day.

In fact, consistent consumption of coffee has corresponded, through scientific research, to lower the chances of developing type 2 diabetes, liver and endometrial cancers, Parkinson’s disease, heart disease, and even depression.

In contrast, overconsumption of coffee can be very bad for you. There is a certain point where the amount of caffeine you are consuming can mess with your brain and heart significantly. You should not be consuming more than 400 milligrams of caffeine per day as an adult.

Consuming an excessive amount of coffee may result in headaches, anxiety, general irritation/agitation, ringing in the ears, and an irregular heartbeat.

Exceeding the advised limit can cause insomnia, nervousness, restlessness, accelerated and increased heart rate and breathing rate, as well as upset stomachs, nausea, and vomiting.