When it comes to coffee, we all think we know best, and perhaps it’s the only time people are proud to associate themselves with the term ‘snob’. But get ready coffee lovers... we’re about to flip your entire world upside down with some amazing facts about coffee you may not have known.

1) It’s widely believed that coffee was first discovered after 9th century goat herders noticed their goats behaving in a peculiar manner. It was said the goats appeared to ‘dance’ in a clumsy fashion after eating berries from an unknown shrub. These berries turned out to be coffee berries, which were actually first eaten before people began to use them to brew coffee. It's also where the name Clumsy Goat Coffee came from, pretty cool ey!

2) That leads us onto our next fact. Coffee is technically a fruit. Go on, Google it – I dare you. That’s right, coffee beans are actually seeds but are only called beans because of their resemblance to… beans.  

3) We’ve all heard the phrase ‘wake up and smell the coffee’. Well, a group of scientists reported that simply smelling it can actually wake you up. Their study suggested the rich aromas of coffee alone can in fact fight the effects of sleep deprivation and keep you awake for longer. Sure, it’s interesting but it’s definitely no substitute for drinking it. Anyway, doesn’t that mean the phrase should be ‘smell the coffee and wake up’?  

4) 400-500 billion cups of coffee are consumed each year. After petroleum, coffee ranks as the world’s second most traded commodity. It has been estimated that the world’s output of coffee is the product 25 million farmers and coffee workers in over 50 countries. We tried working out exactly how many beans that equates to but after 2 weeks we decided it just wasn’t worth it.  

5) Have you ever heard of world class athletes insuring limbs for vast amount of money? Well how about this – the coffee taster for Costa coffee had his tongue insured for £10m. I bet that left a bitter taste in his mouth.  

6) Here’s one for all the Friends fans. Remember Gunther from the coffee shop? Well it turns out he only got the role because during his interview he was the only candidate who was able to use a coffee machine. Well OK, it’s not a ground breaking fact but I bet you didn’t know that.  

7) The most expensive coffee in the world is made from beans that have been excreted by an Indonesian animal known as a ‘Luwak’. The animal eats the raw coffee berries, which are partly digested, leaving just the beans at the other end. It’s reported that this process takes away the bitterness of the beans, adding a unique flavour. Each cup can set you back $35- $100. Are you brave enough to try it?

8) You can overdose on coffee. Try not to panic though; the lethal dose is thought to be somewhere around 100 cups, and by that point the amount of water alone would have already killed you. Having said that, it’s rumoured that French Philosopher Voltaire drank 50 cups of coffee a day. Sacrebleu! Now tell me you’re more into your coffee than this guy.  

9) Adding cold cream to coffee keeps it hotter for longer. Without going too nerdy on you I’ll attempt to explain why. Firstly, black coffee loses heat faster because of its colour. Secondly, adding cream to the coffee makes it more viscous, and viscous liquids evaporate slower, meaning less heat is lost through evaporation. Thirdly, hotter surfaces radiate heat faster, and if you want to get nerdy in your own time, it’s due to a law known as the Stefan-Boltzmann law.

...phew! I’m glad that bits over.  

10) Instant coffee was invented by George Washington. How on earth did that come about? I hear you gasp. Well, he was a chemist, and chemists invent things from time to time. Oh sorry, you thought I meant George Washington the American president. I think it’s time you wake up and smell the coffee!

I hope these facts spark a new appreciation for your favourite little bean, as well help you out in those final questions in the local pub quiz. 

If all this coffee chat has fired up your taste buds, be sure to check out our ethically sourced, sustainable beans by clicking here.

Maybe you’re a coffee connoisseur hoping to refine your palate. Or you’ve always enjoyed a nice cup of coffee but have only just decided it’s time to experiment with some new flavours from the comfort of your own home? Or perhaps you’re completely new to the world of coffee and not even aware that coffee beans are actually green before they’re roasted! Well this guide is for all of you, and its aim is to unite you with the cup of coffee that best suits your taste buds.

Instant, ground or beans?

The first thing to bear in mind is what equipment you have. If all you have is a kettle and a cup, your only option is instant. It’s limited, but if you choose carefully you can find instant coffees that are particularly tasty.

Owning a cafetiere opens you up to the option of using ground coffee beans or even whole beans if you also have a grinder. The process of brewing the beans is much easier if you’re lucky enough to own a coffee machine. But if you don’t – fear not.

Having your own coffee machine is a bit of a luxury, and most coffee lovers are more than happy using a good quality cafetiere. So now we’ve got the logistics out of the way, it’s time to consider the importance of the type of bean, its origin and the way it’s roasted.

When it comes to the perfect cup of coffee for you, all three of these need careful consideration. It really helps if you have a good understanding of what tastes you like and don’t like.

Arabica or Robusta?

There are two types of bean. Generally speaking, Arabica beans are grown at very high altitudes, and as result they make for a finer brew whose flavours are richer and more aromatic. Robusta beans tend to be slightly more bitter, lending themselves to the earthy flavour that many of us love. As well as this, Robusta beans are great for producing lots of crema!

Where’s the bean from?

The origin of a bean determines its flavour just as much as the way it’s roasted. For example, a bean grown in South America will always have a distinctly different flavour to the same type of bean grown in Africa.

The world’s coffee growing regions can be split into three main areas:

Latin America: • Light body • High acidity • Best suited to mild / medium roasts

Africa and Arabia: • Medium body • Medium acidity • Best suited to dark roasts

Indonesia and Pacific Islands: • Heavy body • Low acidity • Best suited to dark / very dark roasts

Something to consider when buying coffee beans is whether they’re Fairtrade or not. Although this doesn’t directly affect the flavour, it should taste a whole lot better when you know your beans have been sourced ethically and sustainably.

Learn more about the benefits of drinking Fairtrade coffee here.

Mild, medium, dark… what does it all mean?!

Depending on how much of a coffee nerd you are, you could split the roasting process up into considerably more categories than this. But this is a simple, easy-to-understand way of identifying the different types of roasting.

Before roasting, the beans are soft, smell like grass and taste nothing like coffee. Roasting is the process that cooks the beans and transforms them into those rich, aromatic, flavoursome morsels of desire.

Light Roasts: Creates beans that are light brown in colour and that have no oil on their surface. This method preserves much of the beans’ flavour as well as adding a grainy taste. Believe it or not, lighter roasts preserve more of the caffeine that darker roasts do! This is because the beans are roasted for the least amount of time by comparison.

Medium Roasts: Result in beans that are medium brown in colour with more body. Again, the surface of the beans is not oily. Medium roasts create beans that are balanced in flavour, rich in aroma and acidity.

Dark Roasts: Leave you with dark brown / black beans. The surface of the beans is oily and has a sheen to it. The flavours of the roasting process have a real impact on the coffee’s taste when the beans are roasted for a longer period of time. The beans will taste bitter, smoky and sometimes even burnt.

Coffee lovers are always striving to perfect their home-brewed coffee. The best way to get closer to that elusive flavour is to try beans from all over the world until you find a balance of flavours that best suits you.

For now, feel free to sit back and browse through our range of roasts that have been carefully tailored for real coffee lovers. Simply click here here to view!

‘Fairtrade’ is just one of the many terms bandied about these days to let you know those delicious coffee beans you’re getting stuck into have been sourced ethically and sustainably.

But what does that actually mean? 

In a nutshell, the Fairtrade mark you’ve see on bags of coffee is licenced by the Fairtrade organisation, an independent non-profit organisation that ensures the beans have been produced in accordance with international Fairtrade standards. These standards have been founded to improve the lives of the coffee farmers, their families and the wider communities. Let’s have a look at some of the key benefits of buying Fairtrade coffee…

1) All farmers are paid a fair price for their coffee

This price covers the cost of sustainable production, even if world market prices fall. On top of this price they also receive a premium, which they’re able to put towards improving their facilities, the quality of their coffee and things like healthcare and education. In the long run this allows the farms to become more competitive and sustainable. Fair trade farmers often group together to form worker’s unions, which empowers them and allows them to make collective decisions.

2) Improved working conditions

Conditions and working hours for employees must comply with the conditions established by national and local laws. As well as this, you can be sure the farms producing Fairtrade coffee beans have not used child labour. All Fairtrade farms also have a policy of non-discrimination and gender equality.

3) It’s better for the environment!

The production technologies used seek to reduce energy consumption and where possible renewable energy is favoured. The farms are also committed to minimising the amount of waste they produce.

Last but not least, all Fairtrade coffee packaging uses recyclable or easily biodegradable materials that have little or no impact on the environment.

So next time you’re doing your online shop, be sure to look out for the Fairtrade logo on the packaging. Despite it’s clear benefits, many big companies still do not produce Fairtrade coffee. At Clumsy Goat, our coffee will always be ethically and sustainably sourced. Click here to take a look at our range :)