100+ Coffee Trivia Questions

For all coffee drinkers, embark on a coffee trivia challenge: uncover surprising coffee facts, test your knowledge of brewing coffee methods, origins, and caffeine secrets. Whether you’re a sipper or an espresso enthusiast, dive into this playful quiz that celebrates everything from aromatic beans to steamy cups. Ready, set, percolate!


Coffee Trivia

Did you know these fun facts?

  • Coffee beans aren’t beans at all but seeds found inside bright red “coffee cherries.”
  • Despite its bold flavor, a single ounce of espresso actually contains less caffeine than the same volume of drip coffee.
  • Finland tops the charts for coffee consumption, with the average Finn sipping about four cups of coffee every day.

Coffee Trivia Questions and Answers

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Test it out. Click here to reveal the answer 👉 Awesome! You’re ready

Creating markdown table

The user wants a markdown table with questions and answers in two columns, where the answers are blurred. For this, I will first count the number of Q/A pairs to make sure I’m not overwhelming the list. Since they’re separated with “|”, I can separate each pair into its own line, which helps structure it. There’s a lot, so I’ll double-check if I need to break it down or if all can fit in a single response clearly.

Creating markdown table

The user has provided a list of Q/A pairs that need to be formatted into a markdown table. There are several lines to count, so I’ll segment the items and start tabulating. The list starts with “What country is considered the birthplace of coffee?” and ends with “What term describes coffee beans that have not yet been roasted and appear pale green?” I’ll include all these questions and answers, with each answer blurred using the requested toggle format. This will make it neat and clear!

Formatting coffee-related Q/A

The user is requesting a formatted list of coffee-related questions and answers organized in a table. Each must include the question and a blurred answer. I can definitely help organize it into a clean two-column markdown style, with the questions in one column and the answers in another, obscured as requested. There’s plenty of information here, so I’ll ensure it looks nice and is easy to read! I’ll maintain accurate formatting to keep it accessible for the user. Starting that now!

Thought for 30 seconds

QuestionAnswer
What country is considered the birthplace of coffee?Ethiopia
In which ancient Ethiopian region was coffee discovered?Kaffa
Which goat herder is legendary for discovering coffee beans?Kaldi
What coffee species accounts for about 60% of global coffee production?Coffea arabica
What species is the second most cultivated coffee, known for higher caffeine content?Coffea canephora (Robusta)
What endosperm-derived powder is made by roasting and grinding coffee beans?Coffee grounds
What color do most coffee berries turn when they are ripe and ready for harvest?Bright red
Which U.S. state is the only one to produce coffee commercially?Hawaii
Which coffee company, founded in Seattle in 1971, has grown into the world’s largest coffeehouse chain?Starbucks
In 1645, the first coffeehouse in Europe opened in Venice in which European country?Italy
Approximately how many cups of coffee do Americans consume each day?About 400 million cups
Which espresso-based coffee drink is made by adding hot water to a shot of espresso?Americano
Which North American coffee chain, founded in 1964, is famous for its donuts and coffee?Tim Hortons
What brewing method uses about 9 bars of pressure to force water through coffee grounds?Espresso
What Italian term describes espresso’s golden foam layer?Crema
What drink combines one part espresso with three parts steamed milk?Latte
What beverage consists of equal parts espresso, steamed milk, and foam?Cappuccino
Which coffee preparation involves steeping grounds in cold water for 12–24 hours?Cold brew
What method involves pouring hot water over coffee grounds in a paper filter?Pour-over
What device, also called a cafetière, uses a plunger to separate grounds from coffee?French press
Which coffee is made by boiling finely ground beans and sugar in a cezve?Turkish coffee
What 19th-century vacuum brewer uses two glass chambers?Siphon coffee maker
What term describes the initial release of trapped gases when hot water hits fresh coffee?Blooming
What natural stimulant in coffee also acts as a pesticide?Caffeine
What is the chemical formula for caffeine?C₈H₁₀N₄O₂
Approximately how many milligrams of caffeine are in an 8-ounce cup of coffee?About 95 mg
Which decaffeination method uses only water and activated charcoal to remove caffeine?Swiss Water Process
What animal is involved in producing kopi luwak coffee?Asian palm civet
Which country is the world’s top coffee exporter?Brazil
Which country has the highest per capita coffee consumption?Finland
What machine hulls coffee cherries to remove the outer skin?Huller
What term refers to removing cherry pulp by fermentation before drying?Wet process
What dry method involves sun-drying whole coffee cherries?Natural process
Which compounds contribute to coffee’s bitterness?Chlorogenic acids
What term describes adjusting coffee particle size before brewing?Grind size
Which grinder type uses two abrasive surfaces for uniform grounds?Burr grinder
What was the first commercial espresso machine brand, founded in the early 1900s?La Pavoni
What Italian “little pot” makes stovetop espresso?Moka pot
Which latte-art pattern resembles a fern or leaf?Rosetta
What annual Specialty Coffee Association event showcases coffee worldwide?World of Coffee Expo
Which flavor note is common in Ethiopian Yirgacheffe coffee?Floral
Which coffee variety is named after an island in Indonesia?Java
What term describes the perceived acidity in coffee?Brightness
What does TDS stand for in coffee brewing?Total dissolved solids
Which device measures coffee’s total dissolved solids?Refractometer
What temperature range (°F) is ideal for brewing most coffees?195–205 °F
Which region is known for wet-processed beans with bright acidity?Central America
Which African country is famous for its peaberry beans?Tanzania
What Colombian grade name denotes large, uniform beans?Supremo
Which brand launched instant coffee commercially in 1938?Nescafé
What garnish traditionally accompanies an Espresso Romano?Lemon slice
Which drink mixes espresso with tonic water and ice?Espresso tonic
What is the Italian term for a double shot of espresso?Doppio
“Café bombón” is made with equal parts espresso and what?Condensed milk
What brewing ratio (coffee : water) is often used for pour-over?1 : 16
What small spoon is used to stir espresso in a demitasse cup?Demitasse spoon
What term describes coffee made by mixing beans from different origins?Blend
Which United States city claims the first American coffeehouse (1676)?Boston
What name describes facilities that both roast and sell coffee wholesale?Roasteries
Which certification ensures coffee is grown without synthetic pesticides?Organic
What label indicates coffee cultivated under tree shade?Shade-grown
Which alliance certifies environmentally sustainable coffee farms?Rainforest Alliance
Which organization established International Coffee Day on October 1?International Coffee Organization
What sugar type is commonly used in Cuban coffee?Demerara sugar
Which espresso-based drink is made with chocolate and steamed milk?Mocha
What is a very short, concentrated shot of espresso called?Ristretto
Which Venetian café, founded in 1720, is one of Europe’s oldest?Caffè Florian
What is the French term for coffee with hot milk?Café au lait
What does “latte macchiato” literally mean?Stained milk
What defective bean is underdeveloped and tastes grassy?Quaker
Which coffee is named after Jamaica’s mountain range?Jamaican Blue Mountain
What characteristic describes Blue Mountain coffee?Mild flavor and low acidity
Which espresso maker brand introduced the lever-piston machine?Faema
What rustic method uses a cloth “sock” filter over a pot?Cowboy coffee
Brewing above 205 °F often causes what?Over-extraction (bitterness)
What term describes beans releasing CO₂ after roasting?Degassing
Which spice is traditionally added to Arabic coffee?Cardamom
What is the name of the formal Turkish coffee preparation ritual?Turkish kahve ceremony
Which spirit is used to make Irish coffee?Irish whiskey
How much sugar is traditionally added to a Café Cubano?One teaspoon
What espresso drink with steamed milk and minimal foam originated in Australia/New Zealand?Flat white
What is an espresso cut with an equal amount of steamed milk called?Cortado
What is the standardized coffee tasting method called?Cupping
On what 100-point scale does the Specialty Coffee Association score coffee?SCA scale
Which fungal disease devastated coffee plantations in 19th-century Sri Lanka?Coffee leaf rust
What term describes coffee losing flavor and aroma from air exposure?Staling
Which metal is traditional for making Turkish coffee pots and cups?Copper
In Ethiopian ceremonies, what clay pot is used to brew coffee?Jebena
Which European city is famous for its historic coffeehouse culture?Vienna
What Japanese method drips water slowly over ground coffee for 3–4 hours?Kyoto-style slow drip
What compounds are responsible for coffee’s aroma?Volatile aromatic compounds
Which reaction between sugars and amino acids develops coffee roast flavors?Maillard reaction
What roast level preserves most of the bean’s original flavors?Light roast
Outside Africa, which country first cultivated coffee commercially?Yemen
Through which port city did Yemeni coffee historically export?Mocha
Which dessert-style drink pours espresso over ice cream?Affogato
What is Vietnamese iced coffee with condensed milk called?Cà phê sữa đá
Which hybrid variety is resistant to leaf rust and high-yielding?Timor hybrid (Catimor)
What selective harvesting method ensures ripe cherries only?Handpicking
What term describes the perceived weight of coffee on the palate?Body
Which Ethiopian varietal is prized for its floral, tea-like profile?Gesha (Geisha)
What spoon is used for measuring grounds in professional cuppings?Coffee cupping spoon
Under optimal conditions, how tall can a coffee tree grow in the wild?Up to 10 meters (33 feet)
During roasting, coffee beans reach the “first crack” at approximately what temperature?About 196 °C (385 °F)
Which coffee, made from Thai Arabica cherries eaten and excreted by elephants, is often cited as one of the world’s most expensive coffee?Black Ivory coffee
What term describes coffee beans that have not yet been roasted and appear pale green?Green coffee beans

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