Trivia

When did companies start to sell coffee in cans?: The process is traceable to Chase & Sanborn in 1878; however, air was not purged from the tins before sealing, and the product was not fresher than other coffees. In July of 1900, Hills Brothers became the first company to use a process for vacuum packing tinned coffee, licensing the just-patented process from Norton Brothers, a packaging manufacturer.
Did coffee spark a war?: Both the American Revolution and the infamous French Revolution were born in coffee houses. The American Revolution grew from roots planted by patriots in the Green Dragon (some say it was the Green Lion) Public House in the Lloyd's District of London. The infamous French Revolution happened in 1789 when the Parisians, spurred on by Camille Desmoulins's verbal campaign, took to the streets and two days later the Bastille fell, marking the overthrow of the French Government and changing France forever.
What is "songbird friendly" coffee?: For centuries, coffee was grown under a canopy of shade trees, providing a refuge for migratory birds that become increasingly important as other forests have been clear cut. Since the development of high-yield, sun-resistant coffee hybrids in the 1970s, significant acreage has been cleared of its vegetation. Some estimates indicate that sun-grown coffee farms shelter about one-tenth as many bird species as shade-grown coffee farms. Proponents of shade grown coffee also argue that the coffee develops more slowly, creating a higher sugar content that results in a richer, fuller flavor in the roasted bean. The motivation behind sun-grown coffee is simple: it is more profitable, as coffee is produced about three times more quickly.
How did orange-handled carafes in restaurants come to indicate decaf coffee?: The most popular explanation is that this originated with Sanka. Sanka, which derives its name from "sans caffeine," came to the United States in 1923. The story goes that General Foods began to distribute orange-handled carafes to restaurants, utilizing Sanka's orange packaging in order to promote that product. Eventually, orange became synonymous with decaffeinated coffee. However, Kraft's corporate archives contain no record of any such promotion, and the company cannot verify the accuracy of this story. It remains possible that the promotion occurred before Postum/General Foods began distributing the product or that the corporate records are incomplete. However, though the Sanka story "feels right," the origin of the association remains unconfirmed.
Why do they call it a "coffee cake" when there's no coffee in it?: Although a few early coffee cake recipes actually called for coffee as an ingredient, the term "coffee cake" generally refers to a type of simple, usually unfrosted cake that is an accompaniment to coffee, rather than a cake that contains coffee. By the time coffee was introduced to Europe in the 1600s, Germans, Dutch, and Scandinavians were already known for their sweet breads, and the first coffee cakes were more like bread than cake, brimming with fruit, nuts, and spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg.
What are some tips for adding flavor to coffee with something other than the basic cream and sugar?: It's easy to perk up your after-dinner coffee. For a great new taste sensation, simply stir in the following, separately or in combination: ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, whipped cream, caramel topping, chocolate shavings, hot cocoa mix, or your favorite liquor.
How does caffeine taste?: Caffeine is very bitter. Barq's Root Beer contains caffeine and the company says that it has "12.78mg per 6oz" and that they "add it as a flavouring agent for the sharp bitterness"
What are the effects of caffeine on pregnant women?: Caffeine has long been suspect of causing malformations in fetus, and that it may reduce fertility rates. These reports have proved controversial. What is known is that caffeine does causes malformations in rats, when ingested at rates comparable to 70 cups a day for humans. Many other species respond equally to such large amounts of caffeine.
Can decaf coffee may lead to osteoporosis?: Low bone density increases chances for developing osteoporosis. Metabolic acidity contributes to demineralization of the bones. According to an osteoporosis expert of Creighton University in Omaha, the high acidity of decaf coffee increases the risk for developing osteoporosis. It alters bone cell function, increasing osteoclastic bone resorption and decreasing osteoblastic bone formation. Avoiding regular and decaf coffee and including 3-4 servings of calcium rich foods a day can reduce the risk of developing osteoporosis.
What is Cowboy Coffee?: It is said that cowboys on the range made their coffee by putting ground coffee into a clean sock and immerse it in cold water and heated over campfire. When ready, they would pour the coffee into tin cups and drink it.
Does coffee help someone with ADHD that is over 18?: Age is not related. But yes, it does. Coffee is a stimulant to most and a relaxant to those with ADD/ADHD, due to chemicals in the brain working differently to the average person.
What are the calories in coffee?: Black coffee with no sugar contains no calories.
What is the difference between latte and cappuccino?: A latte is a coffee beverage prepared with espresso shots, steamed milk, and a very thin layer of milk foam on top. Flavors are also sometimes added. A cappuccino is a coffee beverage prepared with espresso shots, half steamed milk and half milk foam. Cappuccino's can also be made "wet", meaning with more than the usual amount of steamed milk, or "dry" meaning with more than the usual amount of milk foam.
Why is coffee sometimes referred to as Java?: "The original javas and mochas-in fact, all important coffee at one time-were arabicas. But Mocha has practically gone out of business, and Java was forced long ago by mass destruction of its arabica plantings from leaf rust to substitute more disease-resistant robustas. Nowadays, some high-grade arabicas are called java and mocha even though they may be grown elsewhere." REFERENCE http://www.nationalgeographic.com/coffee/article3.html
How many ten ounce cups of coffee in a three gallon pot?: 32 ounces in a quart X 4 quarts per gallon = 128 ounces X 3 gallons = 384 ounces divided by 10 ounce cups = 38.4 cups per 3 gallon coffee pot
Does drinking coffee cause ulcers?: The research has shown that coffee drinking does not lead to the formation of either gastric (stomach), or duodenal (upper intestinal) ulcers.
How many milligrams of caffeine are in a cup of coffee?: A 6 oz. cup of regular coffee contains anywhere from 72-110 mg. of caffeine. This all depends on the amount of water used to brew the coffee, the grind of the coffee, and how long the coffee is brewed for.
What is the WPAC?: At one time there was a group of women who formed Women's Petition Against Coffee (WPAC). That was in London in 1674. They complained that their men were always at the coffee houses, and not being at home as needed during domestic crises.
Why so paranoid?: In 1675 Charles II, King of England issued a proclamation banning Coffee Houses. He said that they were places where people met to plot against him.