Home » Pets & Animals » The Capuchin Monkey and the Cappuccino Style of Coffee are Both Named After the Same Shade of Brown Used in the Habits of the Franciscan Friars of Minor Capuchin.
Capuchin Monkey

The Capuchin Monkey and the Cappuccino Style of Coffee are Both Named After the Same Shade of Brown Used in the Habits of the Franciscan Friars of Minor Capuchin.

Capuchin monkeys are New World monkeys belonging to the subfamily Cebinae. They are easily recognized as the organ grinder monkey and have appeared in several films and television shows. Capuchin monkeys can be found in tropical woods throughout Central and South America, as far south as northern Argentina. But did you know how the Capuchin monkey got its name?

The Capuchin monkey and the cappuccino coffee type are called after the hue of brown used in the Franciscan friars of Minor Capuchin’s robes.

The Origin of Capuchin

Capuchin is a member of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin, an independent offshoot of the first Franciscan order of religious men founded in 1525 by Matteo da Bascio as a reform movement. The early members’ lives were characterized by great austerity, simplicity, and poverty, and while this has been somewhat softened, the order remains highly rigid.

The Capuchins had a difficult time during the 16th century. The established Franciscan communities hounded them, and the pope forbade them from spreading outside Italy. Bernardino Ochino, their vicar-general, converted to Protestantism in 1542 and destroyed them. Nonetheless, they overgrew, reaching 17,000 members by 1571. They were almost as influential as the Jesuits in the later stages of the Counter-Reformation, appealing to the standard and rural people in particular. They were allowed to expand freely beginning in 1574 and were formed into an autonomous order in 1619. (Source: Britannica)

What is a Cappuccino?

Cappuccino is an espresso-based coffee drink that may be found in coffee shops worldwide. It is a popular beverage that consists of one-third espresso, one-third steamed milk, and one-third frothed milk. The fluffy, frothed milk topping distinguishes cappuccino.

The cappuccino was invented in the late 1900s and is thought to have originated in Italy. The name cappuccino comes from the drink’s brown color, similar to the capuchin friars’ clothing color. (Source: Home Grounds)

What Kind Of Coffee Drink Is Cappuccino?

A cappuccino is an espresso drink topped with a thick layer of frothy steamed milk. Depending on the recipe, one or two espresso shots are frequently used. Importantly, cappuccino has a much stronger espresso flavor than other milk-based beverages such as lattes. However, it also includes a thick layer of milk foam, making it delightful and incredibly popular among coffee drinks.

You can change the ratio of steam to frothed milk in your cappuccino. A bone-dry cappuccino is a cappuccino with largely foamed milk. (Source: Home Grounds)

What is a Capuchin Monkey?

Capuchins are called after capuchin monks because the dark fur that forms a cap on their heads and extends down in ‘side-burns’ resembles the priests’ cowl or headpiece.

Capuchin monkeys are among the most intellectual and adaptable primates in South America. The first capuchins arrived in South America 16.3 million years ago, and they, like all monkeys, share around 97% of their DNA with humans. All capuchin species are neotropical, which means they may be found primarily in northern and central South America. Only the howler monkey is as ubiquitous within this region, and the black-capped or tufted capuchin has the widest distribution of any new world monkey, being present in every South American country except Uruguay and Chile. (Source: Monkey Sanctuary)

Image from Kidszoo

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