how all those

different coffee shops can survive

when there are so many of them?

It's because coffee

is the world's most popular beverage

after water.

"Someone said something about coffee."

Worldwide, the coffee trade exceeds

$10 billion U.S. every year.

So why is coffee so popular?

And how did the world

become crazy for coffee?

Keep watching as we explore

your favorite cup of Joe.

Legend has it that around 850 CE,

coffee was discovered

by an Ethiopian shepherd

named Kaldi.

After seeing his goats becoming

more active after eating fruits from a bush,

he tried the fruit himself

and felt more alert and energized.

Although the story

is likely more legend than truth,

coffee does seem

to have originated

in the Kaffa region of Ethiopia.

From there

it spread across the Arabian peninsula

where it was known

as the "wine of Araby."

Coffee drinking

became a social experience

as people gathered to talk,

play chess or listen to music

at coffee houses known as

These places became

so important for conducting business,

discussing news

or exchanging information

that they became known

as the "Schools of the Wise".

"Drink the coffee

it will make you feel better."

By the 17th century,

Venetian merchants had brought coffee

back to Europe with them.

However,

people were suspicious of the new brew.

"Wow."

The local clergy of Venice referred to it

as the "bitter invention of Satan."

"Oh my ***"

But when Pope Clement VIII tried it,

he gave his approval.

Its popularity

quickly spread throughout England,

Austria, France, Germany and Holland.

The Dutch loved it so much

that they tried

to cultivate coffee themselves.

But Holland isn't exactly known

for having a tropical climate.

After failing to grow the plant

on their home turf,

the Dutch exported plants

from Yemen's port of Mocha

to their Indonesian colony of Java.

The success of their

Mocha Java cultivation

led to plantations

in Ceylon and Sumatra.

The Dutch then gave

some of their plants to the French

as part of a military agreement.

France transported them

to its colonies in Central America,

where the coffee plant

quickly took root.

Eventually, coffee found

its way to North America.

And we are grateful.

Although there were

some minor boycotts of tea in 1774,

the popularity of coffee

in the United States

Nice try Boston.

The truth is

that coffee from Brazil and the Caribbean

was less expensive

and easier to obtain

that tea from China or India.

Soon, coffee became

the go-to drink for breakfast,

instead of the usual beer and wine,

because of its ability to stimulate us.

Wait, beer and wine for breakfast

was a thing?

Born too late.

Coffee is 0.65 to 2.3% caffeine,

depending on the roast

and refinement process.

Your liver breaks down caffeine

into metaboliltes,

giving you that energetic buzz.

For many people,

a day can't start

without the stimulating effects

of coffee.

But regardless

of its effect on our bodies,

it really all comes down to taste.

"I love coffee."

Despite its aftertaste,

coffee can have

a complex and rich flavor.

That flavor is determined

by the type of roast,

the way it's prepared

and even where the beans

are cultivated.

For example,

coffees from Columbia and Kenya

have a fruity taste

similar to berries

while those from Ethiopia and Guatemala

have a citrusy flavor.

"Sounds interesting."

There are several species

of coffee plants.

The most common

are Coffea arabica

and Coffea canephora.

After harvesting,

the beans are removed

from the fruit and roasted.

The length of the roast

brings out different flavors

in the beans.

The beans are ground to a powder,

and the size of the grinds

can affect the final flavor.

A finely ground coffee

will release its flavors quicker

than a coarser grind.

The grounds are brewed

in hot water and filtered

to make the perfect cup of java.

So, how did the world

become crazy for coffee?

What is your favorite cup

of rocket fuel?

Let us know in the Comments.

And now that we've looked

at one of the world's

most common drinks,

let's find out why truffles are so rare.

We'll do that on another episode of