Ways to #quarancoffee in Long Beach
A daily habit of caffeine can be an expensive treat, but now following California State’s Governor, Gavin Newsom’s order to keep public outings to the bare minimum, people are being forced to find ways of being creative at home, setting up virtual meetings, group chats with friends and family, and even enjoying a virtual coffee date from home.
According to myfriendscoffee.com over 50% of Americans above 18 years old drink on average 3 cups of coffee per day; that’s 150 million Americans drinking 400 million cups of coffee a day! Statistics rank the United States as one of the world’s leading coffee consumers in the world – even though they were one of the last countries to be presented with this now important commodity in world trade.
On average an espresso-based drink costs $3.45 and a brewed coffee is $2.38. In the 3 largest US coffee houses, the base coffee costs Starbucks $1.89, Dunkin’ Donuts $1.59, Caribou $1.69, and this is without your extra schmancy latte types which can range on average up to $6, depending on your size choice and alternative milk choices.
Given the measures in place, some businesses in this industry have found ways to provide alternative solutions to providing Americans with a barista-made coffee without the guilt of popping out or taking the risk of contracting the virus: it’s time for #quarancoffee!
Son of a Barista: typically a coffee machine only found at hotels, is giving away free coffee machines to any household across the United States. All you need to do is buy the starter kit containing 120 capsules for $78 – that’s $0.65 per cup!
Moon Mountain Coffee: known as one of the few coffee brewers that grows coffee themselves, in Costa Rica, normally sells the cold brew at the Long Beach Farmers Market. Given the ‘stay at home’ orders in place, you’ll still be able to enjoy this local fresh coffee by buying a batch online.
Carmen’s Coffee Company: Elisa Margoni-Bertone is still providing freshly brewed coffee, baked pastries, paninis and more to locals from 6 am to 3 pm daily from her coffee truck at the Naples car wash. You can also have your drinks and food delivered on DoorDash, the Joe app and she’s providing a community roll-out service for only $35 by parking her truck right in front of your home for 30 minutes and providing 2 pastries, 2 bar drinks and 2 snack pots for kids. Another nice way to quarancoffee by yourself or your loved ones.
Coffee since its beginnings around the world:
- The coffee plant was first discovered in the 11th century in Ethiopia. It is a white blossom that smells like jasmine and has a red, cherry-like fruit. When this “magical fruit” was boiled in water, the result of the concoction was believed to have healing properties.
- Down to its newfound popularity, the coffee voyage spread quickly across the Arabian Peninsula and by the mid 14th century cultivation occurred in Yemen thanks to its perfect climate and fertile soil for a rich coffee harvest.
- 1555 Istanbul was introduced next to coffee as the Ottoman Governor of Yemen was stationed there. It was at the Ottoman’s palace that a new method of drinking coffee was discovered by roasting the beans over a fire, finely ground and then slowly cooked with water on the ashes of a charcoal fire. Coffee soon spread from the palace to grand mansions, and from grand mansions to people’s homes. It is in this era that coffee houses started to appear.
- 1615 saw the first coffee taste appearance in Europe – Venice, Italy. Venetian merchants became acquainted with the popular drink in Istanbul, carrying it back with them to Italy. At first it was sold by lemonade vendors and the first coffee shop appeared in Venice in 1645.
- Great Britain came across coffee in 1637 when a Turk introduced the drink to Oxford. By 1660, London saw a siege in coffee houses and the general public dubbed coffee houses “Penny Universities” as they were filled by writers, artists, poets, lawyers, politicians and philosophers. The entrance fee of one penny allowed people to benefit from the intellectual conversation that surrounded them.
- In 1669 coffee arrived in Paris thanks to Hoşsohbet Nüktedan Süleyman Ağa, who was sent by Sultan Mehmet IV as ambassador to the court of King Louis XIV of France. Süleyman Ağa became the darling of Parisian high society. The Parisian aristocracy felt it a great honour to be invited to share a cup of Turkish Coffee.
- The history of coffee in Holland is quite different, as they were concerned about it as a trade commodity than as a beverage. The Dutch began cultivating coffee in its colonies, and in 1699 coffee beans were planted on Java island, thus laying the foundation for coffee plantations in Indonesia.
- In Germany coffee was first introduced in 1675 and was only available to the upper class men. Not until early 18th century did the middle and lower class have access to coffee, and women of the middle class even established their own “coffee clubs”.
- Coffee reached America in 1668, with its first coffee house established in New York “The King’s Arms” in 1696.
- In the early 17th century due to colonisations, coffee plantations spread to the Caribbean islands, and Central and South America.
Since the 19th century coffee has become one of the most important commodities in world trade. Giving you a taste around the world, where’s your favourite coffee from and how do you best like to enjoy it? Get featured on our insta by sending us your best coffee pic @longbeachlocalnews and #quarancoffee #lbln
By Yasmine Tanres