About Coffee

Some tidbits on coffee:

Coffee's spread across Europe in the 17th century was so controversial that it was called "the bitter invention of Satan." When it reached Venice in 1615, local clergy condemned the beverage, and the Catholic Church itself was asked to step in. Pope Clement VIII decided to taste the beverage for himself before issuing a papal ruling and became a fan, issuing his official approval.

Brushing your teeth immediately after drinking an erosive drink like coffee could hurt the surface of sensitive, softened teeth; better to rinse your mouth with tap water and wait half an hour to brush. Don't swish the coffee around in your mouth or use a straw. Research has shown that when erosive drinks hit your teeth at a higher velocity, there's more potential for damage

We collectively spend more than $40 billion a year on coffee -- about the same amount that U.S. state budgets are in the red, and twice as much as NASA's budget for 2013.

Kopi luwak, or civet coffee, comes from the droppings of the Indonesian civet cat, or luwak. The cats eat coffee cherries but don't digest them; workers wash the beans and they're then sold for $110 a pound. It's said that the cats' digestive enzymes make the beans less acidic.