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The Origins of the Word Java
You can track the origin of the word Jave back to a period in Europe’s history known as the Age of Exploration. In the 1500s, explorers from Portugal and Spain set out on an expedition to explore lands far away from their own. Their governments sponsored these expeditions who sought dominance in different parts of the world. One such part was Asia.
Java Island
Another island in Indonesia – known as Java – caught the attention of Italian merchants and traders. The island was a source of significant trade and wealth for these early adventurers because it housed gold and spices, such as cloves and cinnamon.
As Portugal and Spain began to assert their control over different parts of Asia, they sought dominance over Java island. Because Java island was so important to these countries, Java beans were also becoming incredibly valuable.
Coffee trees came under threat as the demand for java grew. Portugal and Spain began to take an interest in java island because of Java’s status as a major producer of Java coffee.
These two nations attempted several times throughout history to gain control over Java island, which is currently controlled by Indonesia. Java island is situated between Java and Sumatra, another major Java producer.
The two nations were fiercely competitive; however, Java’s status as a valuable supplier of Java was not lost on the Italian traders who frequented the island. When the demand for Java grew throughout the continent, Java’s importance was not lost on its farmers or traders.
Java coffee became one of the most sought-after commodities in Europe and Italy, which were the primary java suppliers.
Trade of Java Coffee
A war between Portugal and Spain over Java island lasted years. The two countries were equally matched; Java was able to maintain its freedom. The traders traded Java coffee beans for their gold weight throughout Europe and grew popular in other parts of the world as Java became more accessible via trade routes.
Demand for Java
During this time of early European exploration, Portugal, Java’s most aggressive opponent, eventually won the java war and took Java island for its own. As a result, Java became part of the Portuguese empire and was renamed Java do Brasil – which means “Island of Java” – as Portugal sought to gain further dominance over Java coffee and dominate this area of trade.
As demand for Java Arabica coffee grew throughout Europe – primarily because of its introduction into the Turkish empire – several kingdoms sought Java island as a Java supplier. However, the Turks, one of Java’s biggest customers, became Java’s primary opponent as they took control over large parts of Eastern Europe and also gained access to major Java supplies.
Eventually, the Dutch East India Company gained control over Java island after winning two wars against Portugal and its allies. The Dutch introduced coffee. The Java war between Portugal and the Netherlands lasted over sixty years.
Java island became a Dutch colony and was renamed Java. Java’s newly renamed status was incredibly important because it focused attention on Java as a major Java supplier. In the early years of European exploration, Portugal ruled over most of the Java island; however, other European countries soon realized Java island was incredibly important for Java coffee.
In addition, the Java name itself became known throughout the empire, which led other Java producers to name their Java after it.
During this time period, European merchants also began to sell Java outside of Europe because of its newfound popularity. Moreover, Java’s distinct taste, brought on by blending with different spices, quickly found Java enthusiasts beyond Java island.
Other Java producers began to take advantage of its popularity for their own Java commodities. As Java grew in popularity, other Java supplies became just as valuable as the Java bean itself.
As a result, the traders traded Java beans at higher prices than gold or silver because of their value and the establishment of Java as the Java capital.
During Java’s rise to Java stardom, several major political and social events occurred that would ensure Java coffee a permanent place in Java history:
1. Coffee Java became accessible to all Europeans because the traders traded it easily throughout the continent.
2. The British East India Company became Java’s primary customer and sought to establish coffee houses throughout Great Britain.
3. During this time period, there was also a growing demand for low cost Java supplies in Europe because of its increased popularity and accessibility.
Related Contents:
What Are Different Types of Java Drinks?
Coffee drinkers can enjoy their cup of joe with various coffee types:
1. Java coffee – caffeinated beverage derived from roasted Java beans
2. Cocoa – spicy chocolate drink derived from the cocoa bean
3.Java cola – caffeinated drink infused with java spices
4. Cappuccino – coffee beverage containing espresso, milk, and foam
5. Espresso – brewed coffee beverage produced by forcing hot water under pressure through finely-ground coffee beans
6. Macchiato – espresso with a small amount of milk
8. Latte macchiato – a coffee beverage with a large amount of milk
9. Mocha – espresso mixed with coffee syrup and chocolate powder
10. Breve – coffee double shot combined with heated milk
Coffee’s Health Benefits
Java coffee boosts metabolism, concentration, memory, and brain function. However, java is also high in caffeine, which can negatively affect health if taken in large amounts.
In addition, coffee can be a great source of antioxidants. But you might not know that many of the health benefits of coffee come from its antioxidant properties, including some unique effects to coffee.
You also probably don’t know that there is a link between heavy coffee consumption and living longer, as well as a reduced risk for many chronic diseases.
Coffee itself is a complex beverage containing in excess of a thousand compounds with health effects. The most researched of them are caffeine and chlorogenic acid, both shown to have positive effects on health.
However, how these substances actually work in our body can vary from person to person depending on genetics, lifestyle, eating habits; it can also depend on the amount of coffee we drink.
Wrapping Up
Now coffee lovers have learned why coffee is called Java and the history behind the word ‘Java.’ Java has an interesting history of originating and getting its name after the Java island capital. In addition, coffee is a popular drink with numerous health benefits, although too much caffeine can have negative side effects.