Coffee Culture: the Practice of Drinking Coffee - Research Paper Example

Coffee Culture The practice of drinking coffee s back to the middle of the ninth century in southern Arabia when a goatherd accidentally fed his herd with coffee beans. Since then, coffee has spread from one place to another, becoming a part of many cultures worldwide. This paper gives a short background of the origin of coffee and the practice of drinking coffee as it spread to different cultures. It briefly traces the development of coffee from being a beverage used for religious purposes by the Muslims to eventually finding its way to becoming a culture in itself. From the day of its discovery until today, coffee has been a part of many nations’ customs and occasions. With a considerable market share, coffee, regardless of its kind, proves to be an interesting part of every culture, and that is why it is an important subject of research in the field of social studies. Tracing back the roots of coffee culture leads to rediscovering history, particularly how customs and traditions have evolved with the presence of the famous beverage. Coffee is one of the most popular beverages in the world (Villanueva et al. 20-40). It would be difficult to find a restaurant, hotel, or any place that is not serving coffee. The popularity of coffee makes it an important part of human culture. Likewise, people cannot easily ignore its popularity due to its marketability and health benefits. A brief background of coffee, its origin and evolution is beneficial to know how it has become a part of human culture. Coffee is sourced from roasted seeds of the coffee plant commonly known as coffee beans. The earliest trace of coffee dates back to the ninth century A.D. in southern Arabia (Weinberg and Bealer 75). Then from Ethiopia, it spread to Egypt and Yemen, then to Persia, Northern Africa, Turkey, and Armania, then to Italy and the rest of Europe; to Indonesia; and to the Americas (Meyers). Aside from being a part of many households’ breakfast, coffee has taken part in important historical occasions. For instance, it was employed in religious ceremonies in Africa and Yemen. Likewise, coffee has attracted much global attention as it was banned in Ottoman Turkey in the 17th century due to political reasons (Hopkins). Moreover, it was also implicated in revolutionary political activities in Europe (Hopkins). These incidents associated with coffee make it a controversial beverage, a really important part of human history and culture. As a commodity, coffee is one of the most important agricultural products in the world. More than 80 countries cultivate coffee (“Coffee Drinking Culture”). Likewise, coffee was at the top of agricultural export for 12 countries in 2004 (FAO Statistical Yearbook, 24) and was the world's seventh-largest legal agricultural export by value in 2006. To date, its production amounts to US$14 billion yearly (FAOSTAT Core Trade Data). The important role that coffee has played throughout history asserts the practice of drinking coffee as part of the universal culture. Due to its flavor, aroma, and energizing effects, coffee has become a popular beverage to complement home meals, and also serves as a socializing medium among people of different cultures. The role of coffee as a socializing medium may be referenced to the Les Deux Magots, a cafe formerly located in Rue de Buci in France. This cafe used to be the social hub of many literary writers in the 1900s. The place served as a venue for their meetings, literary sharing, and story telling. Indeed, in his book titled, “A Movable Feast” Ernest Hemingway (72), a world-acclaimed writer recalls his memories of Les Deux Magots as it used to be a rendezvous for all literary enthusiasts in the early 1900s. in Hemingway’s story, he and his friends used to go to Les Deux Magots for coffee before going home finally. Moreover, other literary authors such as Steve Matchett, Abha Dawesar, Vladimir Nabokov, and Craig Ferguson have their own reminiscences of the place in their own respective works. This shows not only the evolution of coffee but the function of coffee in society, being the main beverage served in social hubs. In addition, the literary pieces that recount observations of events in the Les Deux Margot document the role of coffee in gathering people and developing subcultures, i.e., writer/poet organizations. Further to this role is the emergence of coffee shops that not only shape the global economy and culture but also the development of films, theater and literature in general. In particular, most films, if not all, contain a scene or two in a coffee shop where characters meet up for a casual date, a family affair, or a secret mafia society. As such, the development of film and literature gave witness to the evolution of coffee in society and vice versa. Coffee became part of national and subcultures. Importantly, unlike other beverages that are served depending on occasions, coffee may be served on different occasions, at different times and locations. At present, the increasing number of coffeehouses in the US and around the world demonstrates the development of coffee culture as part of the wider culture and society. Considering its ever growing popularity, coffee culture can be expected to continue in the future, increasing market demand and production even more. The Nature and Origin of Coffee Coffee is made basically from roasted coffee beans, which are seeds of the coffee plant. There are two main species of coffee beans, namely Arabica and Robusta, which are found in equatorial areas (“Types of Coffee”). The difference between the two is that Arabica has low caffeine content and yield per plant, and it grows at high altitudes, while Robusta has a high yield per plant and caffeine content, and grows at low altitudes. In terms of taste, Arabica has a “delicate, acidic flavor, a refined aroma, and a caramel aftertaste” (“Types of Coffee”), while Robusta has a “strong flavor with a woody aftertaste” (“Types of Coffee”). Considering its taste, Arabica is more preferred by many drinkers and comprises around 70 percent of the world’s coffee bean production (“Types of Coffee”). Legend has it that long ago, coffee was discovered by an Ethiopian goatherd named Kaldi, who after careful observation found out that his herd looked very excited and energetic after grazing on “red berries.” He then decided to try out the beans himself, and he, too, became active and full of energy. He shared this information with a monk of a nearby monastery, who tried to cook the branches and cherries. The result was a very bitter concoction which he threw into the fire, accidentally producing a strange but pleasant aroma. This gave the idea of roasting coffee beans in order to produce coffee. While variations of this story are common, it tells us how the practice of drinking coffee appeared (“A Brief History of Coffee”). The legend points to one thing – drinking coffee is an age-old practice. Its history dates back to as far as the ninth century or even earlier, during which its cultivation was largely limited to Ethiopia. Soon after, the Arab world expanded its trade, and coffee beans reached Africa, where it was cultivated in mass, and spread to other places around the world, which made it a very popular beverage (Belachew 4). Today, coffee is more than a simple drink it used to be. In earlier years, it was used for religious purposes by the Muslims, particularly as a substitute during religious ceremonies when the use of wine was prohibited (Hopkins); through the years, however, the practice of drinking coffee gradually evolved. In recent decades especially, coffee drinking has become extremely commercialized, so coffee became a lifestyle product. Coffee served in luxurious hotels and restaurants was deemed to be more special and aromatic compared to what lowly households can afford. In this regard, coffee was sometimes viewed to compliment human social status and business market level. Today, with the growing number of coffee lovers and coffeehouses established around the world, the practice of drinking coffee has become a culture on its own, adapted in varied ways in many different cultures. The Practice of Drinking Coffee In most cases, people drink of coffee as a beverage for breakfast. In the morning, when people feel sluggish, coffee serves as a stimulant to warm and condition the body for the day’s work. Throughout the day, coffee can be taken as part of every meal, usually to help digestion. Served hot, it is best to help energize people in a cold weather; it also refreshes the body from the heat of the sun. In many cultures worldwide, coffee breaks have been established in many work establishments, adopting tea breaks from the British culture. The practice of drinking coffee has become evidently popular with the growing number of coffeehouses around the world. In the US alone, “latest research from MINTEL finds coffee shops to have a five fold increase in sales between 2000 and present” (“US Coffee Shops Still Simply Too Hot to Handle”). To date, coffee shops and coffee stands can be found all over the streets of the United Stated States and many other countries. Among these firms are Starbucks, which is currently considered the market leader in the coffee culture (“US Coffee Shops Still Simply Too Hot to Handle”), Intelligentsia Coffee and Tea in Chicago and Los Angeles, Gimme! in New York, Zoka Coffee Roaster and Tea Co. in Seattle, Alterra Coffee Roasters in Milwaukee, Cafe Grumpy in New York, Albina Press in Portland, Victrola Coffee Roasters in Seattle, and so on. These coffeehouses have varied flavors of coffee, from the regular espresso to the spicy cappuccino available in Cafe Grumpy. Apart from serving coffee, coffeehouses like those mentioned above have also evolved into social hubs. Even people who do not patronize coffee frequent coffeehouses just to enjoy the atmosphere of being with family or friends. Then to attract more customers, coffeehouses have expanded their product offerings to include light snacks and refreshments, while some have started to offer wireless internet access to their customers, who are often in the area to do business or simply meet up with friends over a cup of coffee. The entire experience of drinking coffee can become even better when shared with a loved one, a friend or a colleague, usually alongside telling stories and daily life experiences. The concept that probably inspired the formation of coffeehouses can be traced back to 16th century Turkey (Sansal). The Future of Coffee Culture The role that coffee has played in human lives proves to be the main reason for its evolving culture. Used as a The widespread popularity of coffee and the development of its culture are enough to assert continued patronage in the future. Particularly, its strong aroma and flavor are its major advantages, aside from stimulating effects, which make people energetic and alert. In addition, the entire experience it offers when shared with a loved one, a friend or a colleague makes coffee drinking a part of every culture. The spread of coffeehouses and coffee stands that offer light refreshments demonstrates the revolutionized culture of drinking coffee. Since its religious use by the Muslims, when the use of wine was prohibited (Hopkins), coffee has emerged to produce a culture of its own, creating limitless market growth throughout centuries. Moreover, the growing number of coffee types such as espresso, frappe, iced, Indian filtered, instant, Turkish, etc. shows the creative trend in preparing coffee. Significantly, along with every flavor, variant, or style of preparing coffee comes an expression of every person’s individuality based on personal choice (“Why Do People Drink Coffee?”). Conclusion The several roles that coffee has played in the society truly make coffee an important part of human culture. From the time it was discovered until now, coffee has played several roles in human nutrition, politics, literature, and economy. As a nutritional bean, coffee has captured the attention of health experts who found out its nutritional value. Likewise, coffee has found its way in people’s hearts as it can be used to satisfy a hungry stomach, while away time, and bind people of different backgrounds. Coffee has likewise played an important role in politics as it has been one of the primary beverages served in political meetings, organizational gatherings and other get-togethers. Served hot, coffee may promote good communication as its aroma fills the atmosphere of a meeting hall. In addition, it may act as a stimulant to keep one going, thus promote positive attitude and energy. As a tool for promoting literature and arts, coffee or coffee drinking has been the subject of many literary works, films, and essays. Its culture has also inspired a number of fiction writers and filmmakers to portray events at a coffee shop where characters dine and drink coffee together. Likewise, many artists have made friends over a cup of coffee, thus making it an important recipe of friendships. It is not too much to suppose that several scripts were written over a cup of coffee by individual and group writers. With its stimulating effects, coffee has helped many writers to finish their scripts over long nights of writing. As a tool for economic progress, the coffee industry has proven to be a viable source of income not only for farmers but for manufacturers, advertisers, and restaurant owners. Serving coffee in bars and restaurants nowadays, businessmen have made a big profit, especially with the increasing varieties of coffee nowadays. Furthermore, the popularity of coffee shops around the world proves how profitable the coffee industry can be. Based on its widespread popularity, coffee will always remain a part of the worldwide culture. Whatever new practices ensue with regard to drinking coffee or whatever variations in its flavor and style, coffee culture will always be here to stay. Considering this, interest in the coffee market should be further cultivated, from research on its effects on the health to its future market share. Studies pointing to the role of coffee in family tradition and cultural preservation should also be carried out to make way for finding out how other beverages like coffee have evolved, not just in the global market but also in the global culture. Works Cited “A Brief History of Coffee.” OZ Coffee. 2007. Web. 12 August 2012. Belachew, M. Coffee. Weissbaden: Horrowitz, 2003. Print. “Coffee Drinking Culture.” Made in Ethiopia. N.d. Web. 12 August 2012. FAOSTAT Core Trade Data. 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Print. “Why Do People Drink Coffee?” BeverageAnswers.com. n.d. Web. 12 August 2012. Read More