National Coffee Day
A beverage that makes the world go round! The aroma, the taste, the energy boost — a good cup of coffee can make every day a little brighter!
A cup of coffee might seem a common thing but, for coffee lovers, it is a beautiful sight to behold! National Coffee Day celebrates the joy (and energy!) that can be brought about by this delicious beverage.
History of National Coffee Day
The origins of coffee are told through stories of a 9th century goat herder who discovered that his goats had more energy when eating berries from a specific tree. By the 15th century coffee began being exported from Ethiopia to Yemen and other places in Arabia where it is consumed as a beverage.
At this same time, coffee houses began to pop up in Cairo, Egypt, particularly around a religious university that was associated with Sufism, and they also moved into Syria. Coffee houses became not only a place to drink a beverage but also featured various social activities.
As the popularity of coffee spread throughout Arabia through Italy, to Europe and on, its stimulating properties became questionable by those in religious practices – but that didn’t stop the growth and development of this prominent beverage. It has now become a favorite all over the globe.
National Coffee Day seems to have gotten its start around 2005 and has become a way to enjoy and celebrate this delightful and highly beloved beverage!
National Coffee Day Timeline
9th Century
Coffee properties are discovered
The story goes that a goat herder in Ethiopia notices that his goats are highly energetic after eating berries from a certain tree.[1]
15th Century
Coffee drinking is recorded in Yemen
History shows that by this time people in Arabia are consuming coffee as a beverage after importing it from Ethiopia. The Turks also bring coffee to Constantinople.[2]
1607
Coffee is introduced to North America
Captain John Smith, one of the founders of the colony of Virginia, brings coffee to what will eventually become the United States.[3]
1652
First coffee houses open in England
Both Oxford and London get their own coffee houses where they will quickly become fashionable for meetings, debates and more – but excluding women.[4]
1930
Instant coffee is invented
For people who are tired of waiting for coffee to brew, Nestle and the Brazilian Coffee Institute introduce instant coffee, which becomes important during WWII.[5]
How to Celebrate National Coffee Day
For many people, coffee is their reason for getting out of bed in the morning! It’s a morning treat, an afternoon pick me up, or even an evening drink to help stay awake. National Coffee Day pays heed to all of these and everything in between.
Try out some of these ways to celebrate:
Drink a Cup of Coffee
Whether going out to a coffee house, ordering at a restaurant or staying in to brew a cup at home, the first thing to do on this day (and for some people, every day) is to drink a cup of coffee!
In honor of National Coffee Day, be sure to savor and appreciate it a little more. Those who aren’t big fans of black coffee still have plenty of options: coffee ice cream, coffee milkshakes, and even coffee flavored liqueur.
Visit a Coffee House
National Coffee Day is the ideal time to head over to a favorite coffee house, whether a local establishment or a chain, and enjoy a Cup o’ Joe. In fact, some coffee places might offer a discount or even a free cup of coffee in honor of this day.
While visiting a coffee shop on National Coffee Day, perhaps take this as an opportunity to enjoy coffee in a unique and different way than usual. Make it special by turning black coffee into a delicious coffee-based dessert drink like a frappe or a coffee flavored milkshake.
Whatever kind of coffee you enjoy on this day, don’t forget to thank the barista and perhaps give them an extra tip in honor of National Coffee Day!
Try a New Method of Brewing Coffee
Brewing coffee at home can actually be a lot of fun! It has the power to make unique and interesting flavors come out and allows that morning cup of coffee to be even more exciting and exotic. Many people have automatic drip coffee makers that they use with pre-ground coffee. But in honor of National Coffee Day, it’s time to level up that coffee game.
Perhaps invest in an at-home coffee grinder, a french press, Chemex drip brewer, Aeropress, siphon coffee pot or Moka pot. Those who may feel a bit intimidated by these methods of brewing can hop onto YouTube and find tons of videos that help make the process easier. Also, to make that cup of coffee taste amazing, don’t forget the other important equipment like a water filter, coffee grinder and a scale for measuring beans and water.
Learn More About Coffee Beans
For many people, generic crystals are all they have experienced in coffee – and often this means they need to add flavored creamers to make it taste better! But there’s a whole other world out there of delicious coffee that brings their own flavors to the table, sourced from all over the globe.
Some of the range of flavors depends on the kind of coffee beans. The best beans are not only Arabica, but they are from a single origin. Many of the best coffee roasters can even tell their customers exactly which farm their specific beans came from! This isn’t just a way to be fancy, but it’s how the specific flavors are understood and brought out.
Another huge factor that impacts the flavor of coffee is the way that the beans are processed before being roasted. Because coffee is a fruit, it is necessary to get the fleshy part of the fruit off of the seeds, which are the beans. Some farmers use water or “washing” processes, while farmers in other regions will use what is referred to as a “natural” process which means that they allow the fruit to dry in the sun in a sort of fermentation process. Each yields a different coffee flavor.
Discover the Health Benefits of Coffee
While previously many doctors had warned against regular coffee drinking, some more recent research seems to show that it is not harmful to most people in moderation. Originally, studies seemed to show a link between coffee and osteoporosis, but that has been debunked.
Certainly, too much coffee can contribute to elevated blood pressure, jitters, heartburn and even reduced fertility and miscarriage in pregnant women. But this is with excessive use (around 6 cups per day), and not just the average 1-3 cups per day.
On the other hand, recent studies have also revealed that coffee drinking may be helpful in preventing some particular conditions. This may include:
- Parkinson’s Disease. Coffee has been shown to decrease the risk of neurodegenerative diseases, particularly in men.
- Stroke. One study has shown that people who drink 2-3 cups of coffee each day may lower their risk of stroke by almost 1/3.
- Alzheimer’s Disease. Coffee seems to help retain the sharpness in the brain and reduce the risk of this degenerative disease.
- Type 2 Diabetes. In this case, some studies show that drinking either caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee can help reduce blood sugar levels and minimize the risk of diabetes in adults.
National Coffee Day FAQs
Does coffee stunt your growth?
It is a misconception that coffee stunts growth and no scientific evidence has been found related to this.[1]
How to make cold brew coffee?
Combine 1 cup coffee beans, coarsely ground, with 4 cups of water. Let it steep in the refrigerator for 12 hours or overnight and enjoy!
Is coffee bad for you?
Too much coffee may contribute to health issues such as high blood pressure or insomnia, but moderate amounts of coffee are not bad for you.[2]
Is coffee a drug?
Coffee contains caffeine, which is a drug that creates alertness and stimulates the nervous system.[3]
Does coffee dehydrate you?
Drinks with caffeine can have a slight diuretic effect, meaning they increase the need to urinate. So be sure to drink plenty of water with each cup of coffee!
