🥑 Coffee
🍴 Edible Parts
🤝 Companions (11)
⚠️ Keep Apart (3)
💊 Medicinal Uses
Coffee is the world's primary dietary source of chlorogenic acids, powerful polyphenol antioxidants that reduce oxidative stress, lower blood pressure, and improve glucose metabolism. Regular moderate coffee consumption is associated with reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, liver cirrhosis, and certain cancers in large epidemiological studies. Caffeine enhances cognitive function, alertness, and athletic performance. Coffee fruit (cascara) contains additional antioxidants, and coffee leaf tea is used traditionally for headaches and digestive issues in Ethiopia.
📜 History & Traditional Uses
According to legend, coffee was discovered by an Ethiopian goat herder named Kaldi who noticed his goats became energetic after eating coffee cherries. Coffee cultivation and trade began in the Yemeni port of Mocha in the 15th century, spreading through the Islamic world where it was used in Sufi prayer ceremonies. Coffee houses became centers of intellectual and political discourse in 17th century Europe — called 'penny universities' in England. Today, coffee is the second most traded commodity globally after oil, supporting over 100 million people economically.
📝 Notes
Coffee plants are attractive evergreen shrubs with glossy dark leaves and fragrant white jasmine-like flowers. The bright red cherries contain two seeds (beans) each. Arabica coffee accounts for about 60% of global production and is prized for superior flavor; robusta has higher caffeine and disease resistance. Coffee grows best at altitudes between 2,000-6,000 feet in tropical regions. The plant requires consistent moisture, protection from wind, and dappled shade. A single tree produces about 1-2 pounds of roasted coffee annually.