In collaboration with Convergence, VOICE OF ASIA is proud to present timeless articles from the archives, reproduced digitally for your reading pleasure. Originally published in Convergence Volume 25 in 2013, we present this story on the irresistible allure of the world’s most bitter beans – coffee.
It starts with the distinct waft of that irresistible aroma, as your senses begin to percolate. You can almost feel the hot, creamy explosion of coffee in your mouth, and that first sip is a surge of frothy perfection, causing a taste-bud overload and adrenaline surge. Millions of people the world over count down to their next caffeine fix, and with time on your hands, the airport is the ideal environment in which to indulge your desire and savour the experience. Join Convergence on a journey to coffee heaven, as we explore the wonders of this mouthwatering elixir. We probably should have waterproofed the pages…
Did You Know?
There are over 50 species of coffee bean worldwide. The most commonly used beans are Arabica (indigenous to Ethiopia) and Robusta (from Sub-Saharan Africa). After oil, coffee is the second most traded commodity in the world.
Accidental Origins
All of the world’s coffee comes from within the ‘Bean Belt’, where the temperature is tropical enough for the coffee plant to be grown. Coffee is grown in more than 50 countries around the world, with Brazil being the top exporter. Other production heavyweights are Colombia, Indonesia, Mexico, Vietnam and the place where it all began – Ethiopia. According to legend, in the 9th Century, shepherds in this East African nation first realised the profound caffeinating effects of coffee when they noticed their goats ‘dancing around’, unable to sleep at night after consuming the berries. The herder reported his find to the local monastery, where the priests ground the beans into a paste, to create a drink that enabled them to pray long into the night. A legend was born.
Where Have You Bean All My Life?
With its energising effects, and ability to increase alertness, memory retention and learning, the love affair of coffee spread rapidly throughout the world – especially among the rich and influential, of course, as it was an expensive and rare commodity. The plant and its beans were taken by travellers and colonists on their voyages to all corners of the globe, becoming crucial to trade but more definitively, an addictive and mesmerising natural concoction.
Coffee houses sprang up, becoming the place to meet, talk, entertain, and muse. In the ancient Arab world, they were such an important backbone for the exchange of information that they were referred to as ‘Schools of the Wise’. These enclaves, offering cups of enchanting dark liquid and an opportunity for knowledge-sharing, appealed to scholars, merchants, artists and socialites alike. Throughout history – be it the bustling coffee houses of 1600s New York or a 21st century coffee-spot filled with the soothing sounds of jazz music – few have been able to resist the lure of the coffee outlet, abuzz with conversation and a haven for baristas, conversationalists and, naturally, coffee connoisseurs.
A World of Variety
There is no limit to the imaginative ways that the humble coffee bean is taken and transformed into a wide variety of coffee-centric beverages. The Italians drink their espresso with sugar, the Germans and Swiss consume it with equal parts of hot chocolate, the Mexicans add cinnamon, while the Belgians include chocolate. Moroccans drink their coffee with peppercorns, Ethiopians add a pinch of salt, and coffee drinkers in the Middle East usually add cardamom and spices to their drink.
The colder parts of the world are warmed by the curls of heat from a steaming cup of morning brew, while hotter regions gulp down an icy cold creation to beat the heat. However the world chooses to imbibe its dose of caffeine, one thing is clear – coffee is simply irresistible, in every form. Here’s a toast to the roasts with the most!
Did You Know?
You can find one of the most expensive and delicious coffees in the world at KL International Airport (KLIA) – Kopi Luwak, which is stocked at Made in Malaysia, located in the Satellite Building. What makes this product so sought after? The delicious beans are made from coffee berries which have been selected and then eaten by the Asian Palm Civet cat. The beans pass through ‘undigested’ and then are collected for this exclusive product. Yummy!
