Coffee Trivia

100+ Coffee Trivia Questions & Answers

Mike Oberman

Updated: August 14th, 2024

Brew up some fun with Coffee Trivia! Dive into the rich world of coffee, from its origins in Ethiopia to the modern-day espresso culture. Whether you're a casual sipper or a dedicated coffee enthusiast, this trivia will challenge your knowledge with fascinating facts about brewing methods, coffee types, and surprising coffee history. How much do you really know about your favorite cup of joe?

Coffee Origins and History

Question: Where did coffee drinking as a modern beverage first appear?

Answer: Yemen

Question: Which plant's seeds are used to brew coffee?

Answer: Coffea plant

Question: What are the two most commonly grown coffee bean types?

Answer: C. arabica and C. robusta beans

Question: Which country was the leading grower of coffee beans as of 2023?

Answer: Brazil

Question: Which popular beverage was first mass-produced in 1938 by Nestlé?

Answer: Instant coffee

Question: Which 9th-century Ethiopian goat herder is associated with the discovery of coffee?

Answer: Kaldi

Question: In which century did coffee reach the Middle East and North Africa?

Answer: 15th century

Question: What is the name of the first coffeehouse opened in Constantinople?

Answer: Kiva Han

Question: Which Sufi order was associated with the early use of coffee for religious rituals?

Answer: Shadhili Sufi order

Question: Which city was historically a major importer of Ethiopian coffee to Yemen?

Answer: Mokha

Question: Which 17th-century European country opened the first coffeehouse in 1647?

Answer: Italy

Question: What event in the U.S. led to an increase in coffee consumption during the Revolutionary War?

Answer: Boston Tea Party

Question: Who brought coffee seeds to India by smuggling them from Yemen?

Answer: Sufi Baba Budan

Question: What type of coffee is made using finely ground coffee beans and hot water, popular in Turkey?

Answer: Turkish coffee

Question: What century saw the spread of coffee to Italy and the rest of Europe?

Answer: 17th century

Question: What are coffee cherries and where are they grown?

Answer: Fruits of the coffee tree, grown in tropical regions like Southeast Asia and South America

Question: What coffee drink is made by brewing coffee with hot water and no additives?

Answer: Black coffee

Question: What is the world's most expensive coffee made from beans processed by the Asian palm civet?

Answer: Kopi Luwak coffee

Question: Who was the colonial administrator of Aden who noted coffee trade with Berbera merchants?

Answer: Captain Haines

Question: Which Middle Eastern country saw the first evidence of coffee drinking in the 15th century?

Answer: Yemen

Question: What 15th-century beverage spread from Yemen to the Middle East and North Africa?

Answer: Coffee

Question: Which Italian region saw the opening of the first European coffeehouse in 1647?

Answer: Venice

Question: What beverage was more popular than coffee in North America during the Colonial period?

Answer: Alcoholic beverages

Question: Which country led the world in coffee production in the 18th century?

Answer: Brazil

Question: What is the method of drinking coffee popular in the United States where espresso is mixed with hot water?

Answer: Caffè Americano

Coffee Cultivation and Production

Question: What is the primary reason why coffee farmers often live in poverty?

Answer: Disproportionate income from coffee sales

Question: Which coffee plants are primarily cultivated in Latin America?

Answer: Arabica beans

Question: What coffee tree species is known for being more resistant to diseases?

Answer: C. robusta

Question: How many months does it take for Coffea arabica berries to ripen?

Answer: Six to eight months

Question: What type of coffee is made from coffee cherries eaten and excreted by the Asian palm civet?

Answer: Kopi Luwak coffee

Question: What term describes unroasted coffee beans?

Answer: Green coffee beans

Question: Which country led the world in green coffee beans production in 2020?

Answer: Brazil

Question: What is the estimated worth of the global coffee industry as of 2023?

Answer: $495.50 billion

Question: What farming method involves growing coffee plants under the shade of trees?

Answer: Shade-grown coffee

Question: How many liters of water are required to produce 1 kg of roasted coffee?

Answer: 26,400 liters

Question: What is the most popular method of processing coffee cherries in Africa?

Answer: Dry process method

Question: Which coffee species contains about 40-50% more caffeine than Arabica?

Answer: Robusta beans

Question: Which coffee-producing country is known for the most expensive coffee in the world?

Answer: Thailand (Black ivory coffee)

Question: What type of coffee is grown in Central and South America and preferred for its complex flavor?

Answer: Arabica beans

Question: What percentage of coffee is consumed in industrialized economies?

Answer: Over 90%

Question: What type of grind is used in brewing coffee with a French press?

Answer: Coarse grind

Question: What are coffee grounds and how are they used?

Answer: Ground coffee beans, used in brewing coffee

Question: What is the traditional method of drying coffee in Africa called?

Answer: Drying tables

Question: What traditional method uses large quantities of hot water to process coffee?

Answer: Wet process method

Question: What is the estimated worth of the global coffee industry?

Answer: $495.50 billion as of 2023

Question: What coffee drink is served as a shot or mixed with hot water?

Answer: Espresso

Question: What is the method of intercropping coffee plants with food crops during early cultivation?

Answer: Intercropping

Question: What type of coffee is known for its full-bodied taste and better foam head?

Answer: Robusta beans in espresso

Question: Which coffee-producing region saw a decline in coffee production after a revolution?

Answer: Haiti (Saint-Domingue)

Question: What percentage of global coffee production was compliant with voluntary sustainability standards as of 2016?

Answer: 34%

Coffee Processing and Varieties

Question: What is the term for coffee beans that have not been roasted?

Answer: Green coffee beans

Question: At what temperature does the roasting of coffee beans begin?

Answer: Approximately 200 °C (392 °F)

Question: What is the main aromatic oil responsible for coffee's aroma and flavor?

Answer: Caffeol

Question: What process involves using hot water to remove caffeine from coffee beans?

Answer: Swiss water process

Question: What is the name for the reddish-brown foam that floats on the surface of espresso?

Answer: Crema

Question: What type of grind is used for brewing coffee in a drip coffeemaker?

Answer: Medium grind

Question: What coffee drink is made by mixing espresso with steamed milk?

Answer: Caffè latte

Question: What is the traditional container used to brew Turkish coffee?

Answer: Cezve or bríki

Question: What is the process of measuring the roast degree of coffee beans using light reflection?

Answer: Spectroscopy

Question: What compound in coffee beans remains stable up to 200 °C and is linked to heart disease?

Answer: Caffeine

Question: What type of coffee brewing uses gravity to extract flavor from ground coffee?

Answer: Drip brewing

Question: What is the most popular brewing method in the United States as of 2024?

Answer: Drip coffee

Question: What is the ideal serving temperature range for coffee?

Answer: 68 to 79 °C (154 to 174 °F)

Question: What coffee is preprocessed by elephants to reduce bitterness and enhance flavor?

Answer: Black ivory coffee

Question: What is the best method of storing ground coffee to preserve freshness?

Answer: In an airtight container made of ceramic, glass, or non-reactive metal

Question: What type of coffee drink is made with decaffeinated coffee and milk?

Answer: Decaf caffè latte

Question: What brewing method produces a strong coffee with sediment at the bottom?

Answer: Turkish coffee

Question: What type of grind is used in brewing coffee for Turkish coffee?

Answer: Finest grind

Question: What is the term for coffee brewed using espresso and steamed milk topped with foam?

Answer: Cappuccino

Question: What fungi cause coffee leaf rust, affecting coffee plants worldwide?

Answer: Hemileia vastatrix

Question: What type of coffee is associated with reducing the bitter taste by digestive enzymes in elephants?

Answer: Black ivory coffee

Question: What type of coffee drink is typically sweetened and served with milk or cream?

Answer: Latte

Question: What method is used to decaffeinate coffee beans before roasting?

Answer: Swiss water process

Question: What coffee-related product is known for its impact on Alzheimer's disease and heart disease?

Answer: Caffeine

Question: What brewing method involves steeping coarsely ground coffee beans in cold water for several hours?

Answer: Cold brew coffee

Coffee Economics and Cultural Impact

Question: Which country was the largest producer of coffee beans in 2021, accounting for 30% of the world's total?

Answer: Brazil

Question: What popular beverages were historically associated with the opening of the first coffeehouses in Constantinople?

Answer: Coffee and tea

Question: In which country did International Coffee Day originate in 1983?

Answer: Japan

Question: What is a common term for coffee in the United States, often used in casual settings?

Answer: Cup of Joe

Question: Which Scandinavian country has the highest coffee consumption per capita?

Answer: Finland

Question: What percentage of global coffee production was fair trade in 2005?

Answer: 0.51%

Question: What coffee culture event is celebrated annually in Stoughton, Wisconsin?

Answer: Coffee Break Festival

Question: What term is used to describe coffee made from beans that are a mix of different varietals?

Answer: Blended coffee

Question: What economic impact did coffee have on São Paulo in the early 1900s?

Answer: Increased immigration and economic growth

Question: Which European country saw coffee consumption decline in favor of tea in the 18th century?

Answer: Britain

Question: What term describes coffee grown in a traditional, sustainable way under the shade of trees?

Answer: Shade-grown coffee

Question: Which coffee company was one of the first to offer fair trade coffee in its stores?

Answer: Starbucks

Question: What type of coffee is often preferred in Italy for its strong flavor and crema?

Answer: Espresso

Question: What is the name of the auction process where high-quality coffees are sold to the highest bidder?

Answer: Internet auction

Question: What coffee drink is often served at the end of a meal in restaurants?

Answer: Espresso

Question: Which coffee-producing country employed over five million people in 2021?

Answer: Brazil

Question: What coffee-related event is considered one of the earliest political actions in U.S. history?

Answer: Boston Tea Party

Question: What type of coffee drink has seen a rise in popularity in the U.S. due to its reduced bitterness?

Answer: Cold brew coffee

Question: What process reduces the caffeine content in coffee without losing much flavor?

Answer: Decaffeination

Question: What is the name of the organization that promotes fair trade and sustainable coffee practices?

Answer: Fair Trade Federation

Question: What term is used to describe coffee served without any additives like milk or sugar?

Answer: Black coffee

Question: What economic factor caused a significant rise in coffee prices during the Revolutionary War?

Answer: Scarcity and hoarding of coffee

Question: What is the traditional name for coffeehouses in the Middle East?

Answer: Kiva Han

Question: What coffee cultivation method is known for preserving biodiversity and providing habitat for migratory birds?

Answer: Shade-grown coffee

Question: Which country experienced a coffee crisis in the 1990s due to falling coffee prices and economic instability?

Answer: Rwanda