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Following article on” Coffee Industry ” is part of our series on general awareness and industry info:
Millions of people look forward to hot cup of coffee in the morning. There's something about it that just seems to feel comfortable and even the thought of it may make us feel good. The morning ritual of brewing a cup of coffee, the smell that perks up everybody and of course, its flavor, all make it everybody’s favorite beverage aside from water. Can it help alleviate stress, anxiety and depression? Whether you are a coffee drinker or not but you cannot deny the fact that human senses may affect human moods and outlook on life. For one it is a stimulant, esp. sweetened. If you are energized, everything is easier and you feel more motivated to do things, instead of plodding along being tired, feeling drained and defeated.
Coffee is a brewed beverage with a dark, bitter flavor prepared from the roasted seeds of the coffee plant, colloquially called coffee beans. The beans are found in coffee cherries, which grow on trees cultivated in over 70 countries, primarily in equatorial Latin America, Southeast Asia, South Asia and Africa. Green (unroasted) coffee is one of the most traded agricultural commodities in the world. Research study on coffee has been confirmed that coffee is far more beneficial than it is harmful. It helps to reduce the risk of several common medical illnesses and the most important of these is Type 2 diabetes. On other hand, it is clear that coffee is not for everyone. In excessive amount, which means more than whatever an individual’s body can tolerate, coffee can cause nervousness, jitters and rapid heartbeat. Coffee may improve a person’s mood and risk for certain diseases. Many other studies have examined the relationship between coffee consumption and certain health conditions; whether the overall effects of coffee are ultimately positive or negative has been widely disputed. Coffee can have a stimulating effect on humans due to its caffeine content. It is one of the most-consumed beverages in the world.
The history of the origination of coffee is quite interesting and has got many legends behind it. It is said that the coffee plant grew naturally in some areas of Ethiopia and in 875 AD it was first observed by a sheepherder when his sheep ate the coffee fruit and became hyperactive. He then consumed the fruit himself. The plant was later taken to Arabia and there it became so popular that people there started relating it to their religious sentiments and made it monopolized. As an important export commodity, coffee was the top agricultural export for twelve countries in 2004 and it was declared as the world's seventh-largest legal agricultural export by value in 2005. Some controversy is associated with coffee cultivation and its impact on the environment.
In India during 1600 A.D., a Muslim Pilgrim Baba Budan brought seven coffee seeds from Yemen and raised in the “Chandragiri” hills of present Chikmagalur district in Karnataka. The commercial cultivation of coffee was started by Britishers in the “Coorg” district of Karnataka, during 1820. East India Company took interest in Coffee growing as early as 1823. Over the last 50 years, coffee production in India has grown by over 15 percent. Production in India stands at the 6th position in the list of coffee producing countries.
Coffee is dominated in the hill tracts of South Indian states, Karnataka accounting 53% followed by Kerala 28% and Tamil Nadu 11% of production of 8,200 tonnes. There are approximately 250,000 coffee growers in India; 98% of them are small growers. As of 2009, the production of coffee in India was only 4.5% of the total production in the world. Almost 80% of the country's coffee production is exported. In 1942, the government decided to regulate the export of coffee and protect the small and marginal farmers by passing the Coffee VII Act of 1942, under which Indian Coffee Board got established, operated by the Ministry of Commerce.
In India Coffee is competing against tea to increase per capita consumption in India. Indian coffee is the most extraordinary of beverages, offering intriguing subtlety and stimulating intensity. India is the only country that grows all of its coffee under shade. Typically mild and not too acidic, these coffees possess an exotic full-bodied taste and a fine aroma. Indian coffee, grown mostly in southern India under monsoon rainfall conditions, is also termed as “Indian monsooned coffee”. The four main botanical cultivars of India's coffee include Kent, S.795, Cauvery, and Selection 9. India, a major coffee producer, has traditionally been a tea drinking nation but a growing middle class has increased the popularity of coffee shops.
Coffee is the most happening beverage. Go to any of the mushrooming coffee bars and what do you find? The menu displays a range of coffees. Coffee shops have now turned to favorite hangout joints for young generation. Cafe culture has taken a firm grip on India's cities. Foreign chains have begun to scent the profits. With the influx of coffee joints like Barista, Starbucks and Café coffee day, Costa Coffee drinking coffee has also become a style statement. Coffee consumed in these cafes mainly includes latte, mocha, cappuccino, espresso, friazzo and even the perennial old favourite, filter coffee. Over and above actually consuming coffee, consumers have begun to seek an experience and place a premium on brand and quality.
Indian coffee market is booming due to increase demand for ready to drink coffee and has become a part of Indians’ daily consumption. Foreign brands are boosting the consumption levels and export promotional schemes also increase its growth.
Coffee plantation, it’s making process, or opening up a café shop, all are profitable business and expansion of coffee industry bring lot of job scope for skilled, specialized educated people. The coffee industry has many different types of jobs available, ranging from marketing to chain management. If you are looking for a highly paid job in this sector you can opt for position as Coffee shop manager, coffee, supplier or coffee taster etc. Rapidly growing coffee culture makes jobs in the coffee industry fun and exciting as they are centered on the coffee community and with this growth, more and more jobs are becoming easily available.
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