In the U.S., National Coffee Day begins on the 29th of September. Outside of the States, most countries celebrate their coffee days on different dates, and the most common International Coffee Day date is October 1st.
National Coffee Day, according to Nationaldayarchives.com, the holiday gained recognition in 2009 even though it was celebrated four years prior. It is a day to celebrate coffee, of course, and to settle down and enjoy a caffeinated beverage. As for International Coffee Day, it is more about celebrating not only your favorite cup of coffee but the farmers who dedicate their lives to harvesting the beans that make it, too.
The National Coffee Association gives us a brief overview of how coffee came about. The origins of coffee bean production date back to around the 15th century, when a goat herder found coffee plants on an Ethiopian plateau and noticed that his goats would not sleep after consuming these weird “berries.” These beans were then transported to the Arabian peninsula after they discovered the beans’ energizing properties. Production began in Yemen, and by the 16th century, trading the beans circled through Egypt, Syria, Persia, and Turkey. Europeans who traveled to the Arabian peninsula brought the beans and beverages back to Europe, which then spread to the Americas, putting us where we are today.
Here’s an interesting or alarming fact for those who are introverted about coffee enjoyment! Did you know that coffee was not enjoyed at home but in public coffee houses initially? The first coffee house stood in Constantinople, now Istanbul, in the 1400s. In the 18th century, Europe began building coffee houses, especially in countries like Germany, the Netherlands, and Italy. These older cafes are seen in Greece, called kafeinos, where older generations spend their time. Of course, people have since been able to enjoy their coffee from the comfort of their homes. However, most preferred to travel to these coffee houses for the comforting and calming environments.
Harvesting coffee beans is usually a ten-step process, and the beans can take up to three or four years to grow into trees. When the beans are ready to be harvested, they turn into a bright red fruit called the coffee cherry. A massive harvest is held once a year to crop all the beans. Countries in Latin America, such as Brazil and Colombia, are some of the world’s top coffee-producing countries. Strip picking and selectively picking are the two ways the beans are harvested, and the most common way to process the cherries is by drying them out in the sun. The beans are then milled, graded, and sorted before they’re exported to the coffee taste-testers. After the whole process, the beans are ready for roasting, grinding, and brewing for a magnificent beverage.
As a big coffee enthusiast myself, I have a preference for how I like my coffee. But then again, don’t most people? A survey given to 56 of our Patriots suggests that most students—who are coffee enjoyers—do have a preference. Of those 56 students, 37.5% like coffee, while 25% do not. However, the most popular place to grab a drink was Starbucks, with 31 votes. A few of the most common answers to what makes this shop their favorite one were due to the fact that the menu variety is favorable and the students’ orders were always correctly made the way they like it. Those who did not enjoy coffee picked Starbucks because of the cafe’s dessert and food choices.
The second most popular choice was Dunkin’ Donuts, with most enjoying the donuts more than the coffee, which I agree with. They have some pretty fantastic donuts! PJ’s was the third most voted for, with many students appreciating the variety of options available on the menu and the atmosphere for studying. With how close the shop is to the school, our Patriots favor PJ’s more due to the convenient distance, such as senior Carmen Hunderman, who responded, “It is on my way to work as well as close to the library.”
The Just Love cafe seemed to garner fewer votes than previously mentioned, yet many students gave different answers as to why they enjoyed this shop more. Cypress Bryce, a freshman who sometimes enjoys drinking coffee, states, “I really like the environment of it, and it is much nicer than more popularized places like Starbucks.” Unlike popularized locations previously mentioned (except for the one located at Bridgestreet), Just Love has a miniature library that customers can visit while enjoying their beverages. Junior Max Kniffen-Melendez answers, “They have a balanced variety of drinks. I also enjoy the multiple seating areas, especially in the book area.”
Nonetheless, whether you’re at a shop to enjoy the comforting atmosphere for studying, trying out the assortment of menu items available with friends, or just making a cup in your own home, there’s always a way to enjoy this divine holiday. Be on the lookout for what local coffee houses deal out this Friday! The best way is to kick back, relax, and make some espresso, cappuccino, latte, or plain old black coffee.
