Botany & history of coffee
The coffee plant is a tropical plant belonging to the Rubiaceae family. The plant has white flowers and red berries. The berries contain the coffee beans, which are roasted and ground to make coffee.
There are two main types of coffee: Arabica and Robusta. Arabica coffee is generally considered the better quality coffee. Arabica coffee has a soft, fruity taste. Robusta coffee is less expensive than Arabica coffee and has a stronger, bitter taste.
The origin of coffee
It is generally believed that coffee was first consumed in Ethiopia. According to legend, a shepherd saw sheep exhibiting strange behavior after eating the berries of a coffee bush. The shepherd tried the berries himself and discovered that they had a stimulating effect.
Coffee was first cultivated in Arabia in the 15th century. From Arabia, coffee spread to other parts of the world, including Europe and America.