Caer Urfa Coffee Competition - Answers - the winner to be announced later today 

Question 1

What language did the word 'coffee' evolve from?

The answer is: Arabic

Interesting Information:

·         'Qahhwa' was the name the Arabs chose for this splendid drink meaning 'wine of the bean'. What could be more appropriate?

Question 2

Who was the inventor of instant coffee in 1901?

The answer is: either David Strang / Satori Kato both will be accepted

Interesting Information:

·         In 1890, Mr. David Strang from Invercargill, New Zealand invented instant coffee through a method he called "dry hot-air processing". His coffee was sold with the brand name of Strang's Coffee. 1901 Satori Kato created his version of instant coffee. He was a Japanese American chemist from Chicago. Melitta Bentz, from Dresden, Germany, invented the first coffee filter, which was patented on June 20, 1908. Dr. Ernest Illy is credited with creating the first automatic espresso machine back in 1933. Achilles Gaggia, from Italy, invented a high pressure espresso machine in 1946.

Question 3

In the 17th century, France met and was charmed by coffee. Who was responsible for the introduction of the beverage in France?

The answer is: Jean de Thevenot

Interesting Information:

·         Jean de Thevenot was born in 1633. Apart from being a frequent traveler to areas of today's Eastern Europe and Near East, he was a linguist and a botanist. He had friends in high places, such as monsieur De La Croix, King Louis' interpreter, with whom he shared his "discovery" of coffee.

Question 4

Grown primarily in a two-mile strip of land on an island, this uncommon ground is commonly worshipped as "kona." From which "big island" does this coffee waft?

The answer is: Hawaii

Interesting Information:

·         Despite Hawaii's ability to produce coffee year around, there is a limited acreage and a smaller harvest. Kona coffee has the highest amount of caffeine of any bean and is often mixed with other beans due to the limited quantity produced.

Question 5

The international growth of coffee consumption is usually attributed to Arab influence spreading it throughout the Ottoman Empire to Europe, thence to Indonesia and the Americas during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. In what country are coffee plants thought to have originated?

The answer is: Ethiopia

Interesting Information:

·         The first clear record of coffee drinking comes from the Sufi monasteries of Yemen in the middle of the 15th century, but the original plants were in the highlands of Ethiopia. Because coffee drinking formed an important part of religious rituals in the region, its use as a secular drink was banned in Ethiopia until early in the 20th century. In the 17th century, Sultan Murad IV banned coffee and coffeehouses in the Ottoman Empire (using the Islamic ban on intoxicating drinks as a pretext) because coffeehouses were a site of political discussion, much of it critical of the current government. One result of this ban was the emigration of coffee makers to other parts of Europe, where they found a welcoming market for the new product.

Question 6

What European people were responsible for introducing coffee to the European market?

The answer is: Dutch

Interesting Information:

·         The Dutch did more than just that they smuggled seeds out and had them planted on the island of Java. That enterprise went so well for the Dutch that till this day coffee is often referred to as Java or "having a hot cup of Java".

Question 7

What color is a ripe coffee bean?

The answer is: red

Interesting Information:

·         The coffee bean is actually a portion of a larger whole known as a cherry when it still is attached onto the tree. The berry starts out a rich green color and as it ripens it turns a brilliant red hence the name cherry being given to its description.

Question 8

In 1907, one country was recorded as producing 97% of the total world production of coffee. Which country was it?

The answer is: Brazil

Interesting Information:

·         Brazil is still one of the largest producers of coffee beans. As of early 2008, Brazil still grows 25% of the world's production. The majority of Brazilian coffee beans are of the Arabica variety, rather than the Robusta. Robusta beans are grown at a lower altitude and have a higher caffeine content. Arabica beans, which are considered to be superior, have a lower caffeine content, but tend to be more acidic.

Question 9

Coffee is greatly affected by the area in which it is grown and some varieties are more exceptional than others. With that in mind where would the blend called 'Blue Mountain' hail from?

The answer is: Jamaica

Interesting Information:

·         You come to appreciate just what goes into a name when you come upon the fact that Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee is an internationally protected label. Even on Jamaica there are requirements and the altitude of the trees must be grown between elevations of 3,000 and 5,500 feet. That's the kind of a regulation you want when you're paying thirty US dollars a pound!

Question 10

We all know that coffee is made from coffee beans. What kind of plant produces coffee beans?

The answer is: Evergreen shrubs

·         Interesting Information:All coffee plants are shrubs which may grow to 5 m (15 ft) if unpruned, but are generally smaller. They have glossy dark green leaves, and clusters of white flowers. They produce berries about 1.5 cm (0.6 in) in diameter. Unripe berries are green, changing to yellow then red, and blacken when dried. Each berry usually contains two seeds.