Coffee is a beverage brewed from roasted, ground coffee beans. It has a stimulating effect due to caffeine and is consumed worldwide.

The word coffee entered English in 1582 from Dutch 'koffie', which originated from Ottoman Turkish 'kahve' and Arabic 'qahwah', referring to 'wine'.

Coffee was first brewed in Yemen by Sufi monks in the 15th century. Its popularity spread to the Middle East, North Africa, Europe and beyond.

The spread of coffee influenced social gatherings and trade routes, leading to the establishment of coffeehouses, crucial for intellectual and cultural exchanges.

Coffee spread globally, with notable cultivation starting in Java in the 17th century and in the Americas from the 18th century.

The two main species of coffee plants are C. arabica and C. robusta. Arabica is more popular and grown in higher altitudes while robusta is more disease-resistant.

Arabica beans are generally considered superior in flavor, with a sweeter, softer taste and higher acidity compared to robusta. This is why they are more popular despite arabica being less hardy and yielding fewer beans.

Shade-grown coffee preserves biodiversity and is environmentally friendly, although sun-grown coffee offers higher yields but has ecological drawbacks.

As of 2023, Brazil leads coffee production with 31% of the world's coffee supply, followed by Vietnam, Colombia, and Indonesia.

Coffee is a vital cash crop for developing countries, employing over 100 million people. However, many coffee farmers live in poverty.

Coffee cultivation faces criticism for its environmental impact, including deforestation and high water usage.

Coffee has a significant cultural impact worldwide, from coffeehouses in the 16th century to its role in social rituals today.