Last month, we discussed the age-old drinking of tea in Puerto Peñasco. This month grab a cup of “Joe” and let’s talk about all thing’s coffee.
So, who drank the first cup of Joe? And why do we even say cup of Joe? Even the internet doesn’t seem to know exactly how or when coffee was discovered, though there are many legends about its origin.
10 fun facts about coffee:
- One legend that many coffee growers worldwide repeat is about a goat herder Kaldi. Legend goes that that Kaldi discovered coffee after he noticed that after eating the berries from a certain tree, his goats became so energetic that they did not want to sleep at night. Kaldi reported his findings to the local monastery, who made a drink with the berries and found that it kept them alert through the long hours of evening prayer. As word moved east and coffee reached the Arabian peninsula, it began a journey which would bring these beans across the globe.
- There are a few theories about why we say, “cup of Joe.” One theory is that it comes from the name of a popular coffee brand, “Joe’s Coffee.” In 1898 Joseph Martinson, who was known for his “bigger-than-life personality.” Brewed a popular coffee, “Joe’s Coffee”.
- Another theory is that it comes from the name of a sailor named Josephus Daniels. Daniels was the Secretary of the Navy from 1913 to 1921, and he banned alcohol on all U.S. Navy ships. This led to more coffee consumption on board, and sailors may have started calling coffee a “cup of Joe” out of spite.
- A third theory is that it comes from the word “jamoke,” which was a slang term for coffee in the 19th century. Jamoke is a portmanteau of the words “Java” and “Mocha,” two of the most popular coffee beans. Whatever the origin, “cup of Joe” is a popular term for coffee that has been used for over a century.
“Coffee – the favorite drink of the civilized world.” – Thomas Jefferson
- Mexico also has a unique history with the brown bean. The Instituto Mexicano del Café (INMECAFE), or Mexican Coffee Institute, was a government-owned agency that was responsible for the development of the coffee industry in Mexico. INMECAFE was founded in 1973 and was dissolved in 1993. INMECAFE provided assistance to coffee producers, helped market and improve the quality of Mexican coffee. However, even with its success it was dissolved in 1993 as part of a government privatization program.
- Coffee is actually a fruit. Coffee beans are the seeds of the coffee cherry, which is a red fruit that grows on a coffee tree. So, when we drink our coffee can we count that as a fruit for the day? hmmm
- Coffee has been shown to have a number of health benefits. Coffee can help to improve cognitive function, depression, reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, and protect against Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease.
- Coffee is the second-most traded commodity in the world, after petroleum.
- The majority of coffee plants are grown between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.
- The world’s most expensive coffee, called Kopi Luwak, is made from beans that have been eaten and excreted by a civet cat. (I know…crazy right?)
In Puerto Peñasco there are many coffee houses, and establishments with great coffee, the list is plentiful, but here are a few of the coffee places.
Max’s Café: (Across from Peñasco del Sol) Great food, breakfast, lunch and dinner and great coffee drinks.
KaffeeHaus: (Benito Juarez towards the Malecon) This German-style coffee shop is known for its delicious coffee, pastries, and sandwiches. The fact that there is usually a small wait on busy weekends says it all.
Frikah Coffee: (Josefa Ortiz de Dominguez) Quirky out of the way coffee house worth your time to find it!
Candy Cake: (Calle Lazaro Cardenas del Rio) Delicious food and coffee.
Coffee Point: (Benito Juarez) Great coffee drinks with a little eatery above.
Giuseppi’s: (On Blvd. Fremont) Cute morning breakfast and lunch place with a good cup of Joe.
Café Frontera: (Miguel Hidalgo) Good coffee and great food.
JYR Coffee: (Miguel Hidalgo) Charming place for breakfast, lunch and coffee.
Old Port Coffee Roasters: (One street north of the Malecon) A passionate owner, coffee to go, beans to go.
Coffee Time Peñasco: (Benito Juarez) Drive through coffee and inside pick-up.
Valentina Visonti: (San Luis Rio Colorado) Haven’t been there but has good reviews.
Blue Palm Café (Encantame Towers) They have breakfast and Starbucks for chain brand lovers!
Mocha, latte, cappuccino, frappe, cafe au lait, espresso, iced, black…however you take it we have it in Peñasco. My advice wake up early in the morning, go to one of the many establishments in town, grab your coffee and go take a walk on the beach.
I’ll have a side of beach with my coffee.
