What is National Coffee Day and How Do You Celebrate?
For all the coffee lovers out there, every day may be National Coffee Day. But when is it exactly and how can you celebrate? Let’s check it out!
History of Coffee
To start off, let’s explore where coffee came from and how it became the popular drink it is today. Did you know that there are stories of coffee that date back to 850 AD? It is said that coffee was first discovered in Ethiopia by a goat herder named Kaldi. Legends say that he noticed his goats becoming energetic after eating the fruits from a certain tree. Once he told the local monastery, they made a drink using these berries. The drink kept them alert for long hours. Then sooner or later, the knowledge of these berries started to spread throughout the Arabian peninsula and across the globe.
It was not until the 18th century when coffee became the drink of choice in the United States. This is due to the American Revolution and the Boston Tea Party in 1773. To rebel against the high taxes on tea by the Brits, a group of patriots snuck into ships filled with tea and dumped it all into the ocean. As a result, tea became known as unpatriotic and coffee replaced it instead. Since then, the United States has become a large consumer and importer of coffee!Fun Facts About Coffee
- Only two states in the U.S. produce coffee: Hawaii and California
- According to the International Coffee Organization, Brazil grows the most amount of coffee in the world. In fact, they produce about one-third of the world’s supply of coffee.
- The word “espresso” is Italian for “forced out” or “pressed out”
- Coffee beans are actually seeds of the cherry-like fruit of the Coffea plant
- According to Fairtrade Foundation, around 125 million people around the world depend on coffee for their livelihoods.
- According to the International Coffee Organization, people in Finland drank the most coffee in 2016 at 12.5kg per person
- There are two main types of coffee beans: Arabica and Robusta.
What is National Coffee Day?
If you are the type who loves any excuse to celebrate, then National Coffee Day may catch your interest. Best of all, if you love coffee, this is a great day to treat yourself to an extra cup! National Coffee Day in the United States lands on September 29th. Depending on where you are in the world, you can also find it celebrated on October 1st, for International Coffee Day. Just as it sounds, it is a day to celebrate coffee and its history.
In addition to celebrating the beverage, National Coffee Day is also for promoting fair trade coffee. Specifically, it used to raise public awareness about the conditions of coffee farmers. They are aiming to strengthen the sustainability as well as the lives of coffee farmers. This includes prohibiting child labor and regulating working conditions. Fair trade coffee is also important because there is transparency of goods and payments. This ensures farmers are paid a fair wage. Through this, they are able to support their families, invest in their communities, and protect the environment.
How Do You Celebrate National Coffee Day?
Now that we know exactly what International Coffee Day is all about, how can you celebrate this year? Here are a few ideas you can use not only this September 29th or October 1st but throughout the year!
Try a New Drink
Many times people tend to stick to their usual order at coffee shops. Or they stick with their go-to recipe when making a cup of coffee at home. Get adventurous this coffee day and try out a new coffee recipe or order a new drink at your local coffee shop. You may be pleasantly surprised or you may even discover a new favorite drink!
Treat Yourself or a Fellow Coffee Lover
Celebrate National Coffee Day by buying yourself the new coffee flavors or brands you have been eyeing! Or perhaps it's time to get some new coffee equipments! You can also send fun coffee gift baskets or subscriptions to any coffee lover in your life to make their day. This is a great way to spread some coffee fun or even get someone into new types of coffee!
Get Some Great Deals
Not to worry, you won’t be celebrating National Coffee Day on your own. In fact, there are many places spreading awareness and celebrating this special occasion. Try checking out some of your favorite coffee shops to see what they have to offer. You may be surprised at some of the deals available!
National Coffee Day is a fun holiday to not only enjoy great deals on coffee but to also raise awareness for fair trade coffee. How are you going to celebrate National Coffee Day this year?
