OG Salutes the World Cup: Germany’s Coffee History

The distinctive red black and yellow German flag is always a prominent force in the FIFA World Cup. This strong soccer country also has a strong affiliation with coffee. So as the battle for the FIFA World Cup 2014 rages on in Brazil, we thought we’d take a look at the Germans and their coffee proclivities.

• The German word “Kaffeeklatsch” is a term often used to describe an informal gathering for coffee and conversation. The term is derived from the German words “Kaffee” which of course means coffee, and “klatsch” which means gossip.
• The Germans love to have their afternoon coffee with cake, an occasion that is often dubbed “Kaffee & Kuchen”. It is also a way to welcome guests and spend time with family and friends.
• Everyone associates Germany with beer, but statistically, coffee is even more popular! On average, Germans drink 150 liters each of coffee per year — which is more than the average annual intake of beer, wine or mineral water.
• Germany is actually the world’s second largest importer of coffee — behind the United States.
• Drip coffee was a German invention — when, in 1908, Melitta Benz, a housewife from Dresden, tried to get rid of the coffee grounds in her coffee by filtering the freshly brewed coffee through a piece of blotting paper. Today Melitta is a successful company, producing coffee filters and other coffee-related products.
• Germans have a long history focused on building good machines for coffee. In the 1950s, Otto Bengtson from Berlin invented the first mass catering, fully automated coffee machine, which featured an integrated mill, and in 1954, German inventor Gottlob Widmann invented the Wigomat, the first drip coffee-maker.
• The trend in Germany appears to be moving towards fast, easy-to-prepare, convenient coffee products. According to a recent Euromonitor report (May, 2014): “Demand for coffee products that are fast and quick to prepare is predicted to remain high.” The report continued: “Tight work schedules and a relatively low unemployment rate mean that most Germans have a regular income but little spare time. This acts as a strong incentive to buy convenient products, particularly because the desire of working Germans to engage in many activities in their spare time is high, and time-saving products are needed. Products which allow for quick consumption and easy preparation are thus expected to be the best performers over the forecast period.”
• Renowned German composer Johann Sebastian Bach was passionate about coffee. He once wrote an operetta, called the Coffee Cantata, which tells the story of a girl’s addiction to coffee. “I need to have coffee, coffee; if you want to give me a treat – pour me a cup of coffee,” wrote Bach in 1732.