Alternative Uses For Coffee This International Coffee Day

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Even the word “coffee” elicits an instant response: you can just about smell the scent of the roasted beans and taste the rich flavour as soon as it’s mentioned. While many of us start our day with a hot cup of joe, few of us know the intricate history of coffee  and the alternative uses for coffee. 

It’s safe to say that many countries claim that they originated coffee, however the first written reference of the beverage came from Ethiopia in the work of a tenth century Arabnian doctor. Berries were eaten whole, mixed with fat and then fermented. The pulp was then used for a drink that was classed as a type of wine. By the thirteenth century, the beans were cleaned and roasted before being infused, much like today’s coffee. 

The word coffee actually comes from the Turkish kahveh, which itself comes from the Arabic word for wine, gahwah. It was the members of the Muslim religious order known as “Dervishes” (known for chanting and whirling in ecstatic frenzy) who spread the consumption of coffee throughout the Middle East and North Africa. It can be assumed that from here it eventually spread to the rest of the world. 

Since then, coffee has taken on many forms: espresso, cortado, macchiato, the list is endless yet the outcome is always delicious. 

Beauty

For those of you who use coffee grinds to concoct your beverage of choice, did you know the leftover grinds can be used in your beauty routine? Simply combine the used grinds with coconut oil and brown sugar to create a scrub that will exfoliate and energise rough, tired skin. It also helps with acne and can even fade scars. 

Cuisine

Coffee can also be used in your cooking and not just in desserts: it makes an amazing accompaniment to a variety of meat dishes, such as steak. To create an easy and flavourful steak rub, combine non-flavoured finely ground coffee, salt, pepper, and brown sugar. This method of cooking steak on the grill was used by American cowboys and gives the meat a rich, smoky flavor. 

Mixology

Few cocktails have reached the incredible popularity of an espresso martini, but there’s dozens of other cocktails that use coffee in their ingredients. To discover new and interesting ways to use coffee in your cocktails, why not book a HOMEtainer for an at-HOME mixology class?