International Coffee Day is annually observed across the globe on October 1st to celebrate the diversity, quality and passion of the coffee sector. The day also highlights the challenges faced by the farmers of coffee beans.
The day is annually celebrated by the International Coffee Organization(ICO), its 77 Member states and coffee associations across the globe.
The word coffee is derived from the Arabic word “qahwah”, which referred to a type of wine. Then came the Ottoman Turks who used the word “kahve”. This was followed by the Dutch word “koffie”. The now-popular English name was derived in 1582.
Background:
i.In March 2014, the International Coffee Organisation (ICO)’s member states agreed to observe the 1st October of every year as the International Coffee Day.
ii.The International Coffee Day was officially launched by the ICO as a part of the World Expo 2015 hosted by Milan, Italy, in 2015.
2021 Campaign:
i.In 2020, the ICO launched “Coffee’s Next Generation”, a global initiative targeting talented and motivated young people and entrepreneurs in the coffee sector.
ii.The ICO has decided to continue the ‘Coffee’s Next Generation’ as the focus for International Coffee Day 2021.
Gist about Top Nations:
Netherlands has the highest-consumption of coffee, followed by Finland and Sweden. The people of the Netherlands consume the most coffee per capita with a whopping 8.3 kilograms.
About Coffee:
i.Coffee is cultivated from the coffee plants, a tropical evergreen shrub native to tropical and southern Africa and tropical Asia.
ii.Coffee has a stimulating effect on humans due to the presence of caffeine content. Caffeine is a natural stimulant commonly found in tea, coffee, and cacao plants
iii.Consumption of coffee reduces the risk of cancers, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, and Type II diabetes.
International Coffee Organization(ICO):
ICO Member Governments represent 98% of world coffee production and 67% of world consumption
Chair of International Coffee Council– John Muldowney
Established in 1963
Headquarters– London, United Kingdom
