Coffee has come a long way since it was discovered in 1100 BC
by an Ethiopian goat herder. Today,
there is an abundance of coffee blends and flavours, but the five most popular
varieties include Espresso, Latte, Mocha, Cappucino and Macchiato. And did you know that a cup of coffee a day,
may keep the doctor away! There are some
health benefits associated with drinking a moderate amount of coffee because it
contains antioxidants that might help prevent certain diseases and conditions. Today, Brazil is the largest coffee
producer, with close to 4000 million trees (coffee beans come from coffee
cherries grown on trees). In 2003, a
study showed that 81% of Canadians drink coffee and the majority of coffee
drinkers consume this beverage in the morning at breakfast. But just how often do you hear the phrase “let’s
go for coffee!” Gone are the coffee
shops and diners of yester-year. Today
we have new-age gourmet coffee shops that offer a variety of coffee blends and
recipes, meals and snacks, and many have combined an “art gallery” theme with
their décor. Today’s coffee shops are a
place to relax and converse with friends, or work associates, or even to just
sit quietly on your own to read the newspaper or a book. Rumour has it that the well-known author of
the Harry Potter books, J.K. Rowling, wrote her first book in a coffee shop! The next time you go into a coffee shop, take
a moment to reflect on what it is you enjoy about the experience…the ambience….the
camaraderie with friends…the flavour of the coffee. I’m sure you’ll agree that the coffee
experience encompasses all of those things!
Thank you to the Canvas Cup and to Serious Coffee for providing the
wonderful backrops (and coffee!) for the photos below. The next time you meet friends for coffee,
sit back and relax, say “aaaaahhhh” and enjoy the rich experience of life
well-lived over a cup of coffee.
