Coffee

Definition

Coffee is a globally consumed beverage prepared from the roasted seeds—commonly referred to as beans—of plants belonging to the genus Coffea, primarily Coffea arabica (Arabica) and Coffea canephora (Robusta). Second only to water and tea in global popularity, coffee is prized for its stimulating caffeine content, complex chemical flavor compounds, and its role as a major commodity driving agricultural trade, café cultures, and economic systems worldwide. (Wikipedia)

Also Known As

• Coffee bean
  • Coffee
  • Kape (Tagalog)
  • Cafe
  • Coffea Beans

Identities

Source Type	Identity
Wikipedia	Coffee
Wikidata	Q8486
DBpedia	Coffee
ProductOntology	http://www.productontology.org/doc/Coffee
Wiktionary	coffee
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH)	Coffee — History
MeSH	Coffee
NCBI Taxonomy	Coffea
AGROVOC	http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_1762
Google Scholar	coffee caffeine roasting extraction antioxidant sensory
ConceptNet	coffee
OpenCyc	N/A

Examples and Analogies

*   **Espresso Extraction:** Forcing hot water under pressure through finely-ground coffee beans to produce a concentrated shot.
*   **Coffee Roasting:** Applying thermal energy to green coffee beans to trigger the Maillard reaction and develop aromatic flavors.

Usage Scenarios

*   **Brewing morning coffee:** A consumer uses a drip coffee maker or French press to prepare their daily morning beverage for alertness.
*   **Trading green coffee beans:** A commodity trader finalizes a purchase contract for Robusta bags on the London International Financial Futures Exchange.

Strategies

*   Cross-reference botany and processing details with the main Arabica Coffee and Robusta Coffee articles.
*   Store roasted coffee beans in a cool, dark place inside airtight containers with one-way valves to prevent oxidation.

Security and Safety Measures

*   Ensure that raw green coffee beans are dried to a stable moisture content of 10% to 12% to prevent mold growth during transit.
*   Limit daily caffeine consumption to recommended health guidelines (typically under 400mg per day for healthy adults).

Historical Context

Wild coffee plants are believed to have originated in Ethiopia, with the earliest credible evidence of coffee drinking or knowledge of the coffee tree appearing in the mid-15th century in the Sufi shrines of Yemen. By the 16th century, the beverage had reached the rest of the Middle East and Persia. It spread to Europe in the 17th century, triggering the opening of historic coffee houses that served as hubs for social and political discussions, before European colonial powers established massive plantations in Asia and the Americas.

Challenges and Controversies

*   **Climate Change Threat:** Rising global temperatures threaten wild Coffea species and reduce the arable land suitable for growing high-quality Arabica coffee.
*   **Price Volatility:** Fluctuations in commodity market prices make it difficult for smallholder coffee farmers to sustain stable livelihoods.

Related Topic

*   [[Arabica Coffee]]
*   [[Robusta Coffee]]
*   [[Excelsa Coffee]]
*   [[Kapeng Barako]]
*   [[Philippine Coffee Board]]
*   [[Coffee in the Philippines]]

References

1. Coffee — Wikipedia