International Coffee Day: Guess where these coffee traditions come from
Today’s all about the coffee-lovers – but how well do you know your café-culture trivia from around the world?
Who doesn’t love a coffee? From humble beginnings, it’s one of the world’s highest-grossing products and has become a must-have product in households across the world. Such is the beverage’s popularity, in fact, that a 2024 study found that a higher percentage of UK residents drank coffee than tea – sacrilege, we know!
To celebrate International Coffee Day, our team has been brushing up on some lesser-known café-themed facts and made a few surprising discoveries. From the world’s biggest consumers to the origins of the coffee bean, we’ve compiled the facts that piqued our interest most and have put them into a quick-and-easy quiz. So, whether you’re a coffee enthusiast or simply enjoy a pick-me-up from time to time, settle in with your favourite cuppa and see how well you know your coffee-based trivia.
1. In which country did coffee originate?
a. Colombia
b. Indonesia
c. Ethiopia
d. Brazil
2. Where did the term ‘cappuccino’ originate?
a. Spain
b. Italy
c. Portugal
d. France
3. Which European country consumes the most coffee per year?
a. Austria
b. Denmark
c. The UK
d. Finland
4. Which country imports the greatest amount of coffee beans in the world?
a. USA
b. China
c. India
d. New Zealand
5. Brazil grows almost 40% of the world’s coffee, but how many coffee trees does it have?
a. 2 billion
b. 4 million
c. 6 million
d. 8 million
Answers
1. Ethiopia – Though it’s now a popular beverage across the globe, with unique varieties grown across South America and Asia, the very first coffee beans are believed to have been cultivated in 9th-century Ethiopia. From there, travelling merchants spread the plant across Africa to the Arabic world and later Europe. In fact, despite many of today’s most popular strains coming from the Americas and Southeast Asia, coffee was only introduced to these areas during the 17th century.
2. Italy – the term ‘cappuccino’ was first used to describe the light brown hood worn by Capuchin monks in Italy’s Franciscan monasteries. Locals, who often drank their espressos with a head of foamed milk, noted that the monks’ habits looked like their regular coffees, and with that, the cappuccino (as we know it) was born.
3. Finland – Contrary to popular belief, Europe’s most coffee-mad country is actually Finland, with locals drinking an average of 12kg per person every year. Though Italy, France, and Austria have proud café cultures, the ‘Land of a Thousand Lakes’ leads the way when it comes to annual consumption.
4. USA – As you might have guessed, the United States just can’t get enough of a good cup of ‘Joe’, and the country imports the highest overall amount of coffee beans per year. This equates to around 2.5 million pounds of coffee and has led to the creation of some of the world’s most popular café franchises. Perhaps more surprisingly is that second place belongs to Germany!
5. 4 million – As the country’s biggest export, Brazil’s coffee industry employs over five million farm workers and harvest over 300 million pounds of beans every year. To achieve these numbers, Brazil’s coffee estates house around 4 million trees. To put that in perspective, they cover an area roughly the size of Yorkshire.
Brew up your next adventure with Newmarket Holidays
So, how did you do? Let us know on our social media pages and compare scores with other like-minded travellers. If you’re feeling inspired to try some of the world’s most intriguing coffee traditions, give one of our friendly holiday planners a call to kick-start your next escape. For more information on our full range of holidays, check out our destinations page.
