The great trebuchets created a different problem for those charged with building catapults. These much larger machines of war required a better understanding of physics and more, and heavier materials. Since they were known for their castle-wall crushing ability, building catapults of this design was often necessary on site.

Believed to have been created in 12 century France, trebuchet used a long wooden arm rested on a pivot point to act as a larger level. When building catapults of this style, a very large projectile was also needed. Earlier versions called for warriors to pull on ropes to hurl stone or object.

Although it wasn’t easy to fill an order on site, much like modern day Army Corp of Engineers, their early counterparts understood what was necessary to go about building catapults. They knew, too, success or failure of their military campaign might depend on their ability to build catapults with speed and accuracy. With a wealth of knowledge stored in their heads – rather than in calculators – they set about putting these machines together onsite, or in case of more mobile models in advance.

For more medieval siege weapons information, including catapult history, visit Medieval Siege Weapons Index page at www.medieval-castle-siege-weapons.com

Early in 17th century, Edward Lloyd's coffee house opens in England. The Dutch became first to commercially transport coffee. The first Parisian café opens in 1713 and King Louis XIV is presented with a lovely coffee tree. Sugar is first used as an addition to coffee in his court.

The America’s Have Coffee

Coffee plants were introduced in Americas for development. By close to end of seventeen hundreds, 1,920 million plants are grown on island.

Evidently eighteen hundreds were spent trying to find better methods to make coffee.

The “Brew” in 20th Century

New methods to help brewing coffee start popping up everywhere. The first commercial espresso machine is developed in Italy. Melitta Bentz makes a filter using blotting paper. Dr. Ernest Lily manufactures first automatic espresso machine. The Nestle Company invents Nescafe instant coffee. Achilles Gaggia perfects espresso machine. Hills Bros. begins packing roasted coffee in vacuum tins eventually ending local roasting shops and coffee mills. A Japanese-American chemist named Satori Kato from Chicago invents first soluble “instant” coffee.

German coffee importer Ludwig Roselius turns some ruined coffee beans over to researchers, who perfected process of removing caffeine from beans without destroying flavor. He sells it under name Sanka. Sanka is introduced in United States in 1923.

George Constant Washington an English chemist living in Guatemala, is interested in a powdery condensation forming on spout of his silver coffee flask. After checking into it, he creates first mass-produced instant coffee which is his brand name called Red E Coffee.

Prohibition goes into effect in United States. Coffee sales suddenly increase. Brazil asked Nestle to help find a solution to their coffee surpluses so Nestle Company comes up with freeze-dried coffee. Nestle also made Nescafe and introduced it to Switzerland.

Other Interesting Tidbits

Today US imports 70 percent of world’s coffee crop. During W.W.II, American soldiers were issued instant Maxwell House coffee in their ration kits.

In Italy, Achilles Gaggia perfects his espresso machine. The name Cappuccino comes from resemblance of its color to robes of monks of Capuchin order.

One week before Woodstock, Manson family murders coffee heiress Abigail Folger as she visits with her friend Sharon Tate in home of filmmaker Roman Polanski.

Starbuck’s Hits Coffee World Starbucks opens its first store in Seattle's Pike Place public market in 1971. This creates madness over fresh-roasted whole bean coffee. Coffee finally becomes world's most popular beverage. More than 450 billion cups are sold each year by 1995.

The Current Coffee Trends

Now in 21st century we have many different styles, grinds, and flavors of coffee. We have really come a long way even with our coffee making machines. There’s no sign of coffee consumption decreasing. Researchers are even finding many health benefits to drinking coffee. Drink and enjoy!