UK Coffee Week 2022 and some surprising coffee facts
Alex | October 11, 2022
UK Coffee Week 2022 runs from 10th – 17th October. Created in 2011, UK Coffee Week is a nationwide fundraising initiative that supports coffee-growing countries through the vibrancy of coffee culture. The week aims to raise funds that will go directly to the charity initiative, Project Waterfall.
What is Project Waterfall?
Project Waterfall’s mission is to unite the coffee industry and coffee consumers to give back to the communities growing coffee. The way they do this is by investing in sustainable clean water, sanitation and hygiene projects.
It’s staggering to think that today around 785 million people around the world don’t have access to clean water. The majority live in isolated, rural areas which tend to be in coffee-growing areas. Because coffee is a water-intensive crop with a large water footprint. the communities at the end of the coffee supply chain are facing a water crisis.
1.6 million people die every year from water-related diseases, with children affected the most. The work that Project Waterfall does helps to change this, as does education about good hygiene. Safe, clean water and sanitation bring greater access to education, income and ultimately a better life. This is why supporting UK Coffee Week is so important.
To celebrate UK Coffee Week, we’ve rounded up our top five fun facts about coffee that’ll surprise you!
Coffee beans are actually seeds
Coffee beans are the pits of cherry-like berries found on flowering shrubs. We only call them “beans” because of their striking resemblance to legumes.
The world’s most expensive coffee machine is £35,000
The Royal Paris Gold Coffee Maker costs an eye-watering £35,000. Ultimately, this is a coffee maker made only for extreme coffee aficionados. It’s a siphon-style coffee brewer designed by Parisian sculptor, Jean Rieutort. It’s made using 24-karat gold with a beautiful Baccarat crystal carafe with a mahogany base.
Coffee drinkers may live longer
Research has linked moderate coffee consumption (about three to four cups per day) with a longer life span according to the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology. It’s also thought that coffee may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and Parkinson’s disease.
A cup of black coffee has only 2 calories
If you’re on a calorie-controlled diet or you’re looking to lose or maintain your weight, black coffee is your friend. An average cup of black coffee is only 2 calories. Filtered coffee is the closest you’ll get to coffee with zero calories because the calories are found in the coffee grounds. Therefore the more grounds you filter out during the brewing process, the lower the number of calories in your cup.
Coffee grounds as skincare
Did you know you can use coffee grounds as part of your beauty regime? If you want smoother skin, coffee grounds could be the answer. Coffee is packed full of antioxidants. It has an excellent exfoliating action when applied directly to the skin so don’t throw those grounds away!
How can you get involved with UK Coffee Week?
During UK Coffee Week, the coffee industry and its customers come together to celebrate all things coffee. It raises funds for the people who make our love of coffee possible. Hospitality businesses fundraise by donating from coffee sold, or by running events. Activities include coffee tastings, latte art classes, live music and craft events, competitions and a host of unique coffee-based experiences.
You can get involved by heading to their website, and if you need any information about office coffee, our team are here to help. Just give us a call on 020 7553 7900