Welcome to our series sharing Food Holidays: September 29th, 2022.Today is not only National Mocha Day but National Coffee Day. It’s time to set aside your favorite beverage and have a cup of Coffee or two. As my mother and David would say.
Did you know the term ‘Mocha’ actually originated as early as 1773 and referred to a variety of Coffee Beans. The Mochas variety.
Five Food Finds about Coffee
1. Coffee is only grown near the equator, from the Tropic of Cancer to the Tropic of Capricorn, within a 1,000 mile limit.
2. Did you know there are 1,200 different chemical components in Coffee.
3. There is between 80 and 140 milligrams of caffeine in a seven once cup of Coffee.
4. 400 billion cups of Coffee are consumed worldwide, making Coffee the most popular beverage.
4. 91% of Coffee consumed is taken at breakfast.
Five Food Finds about Coffee
While the U.S. and Canada celebrate National Coffee Day on September 29th, other nations mark this holiday throughout the calendar. International Coffee Day happens just two days later on October 1st. The International Coffee Organization has pledged to help struggling Coffee farmers worldwide make a living wage.
WHEN IS NATIONAL COFFEE DAY 2022?
The caffeine beverage Coffee that keeps us going is celebrated on National Coffee Day which falls on September 29th.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL COFFEE DAY
The history of National Coffee Day seems cloudy. We believe September 29th came about as a jolting reminder to get back to work following a long Summer. Even though it’s a full week after the first day of Fall. After all, Americans have turned procrastination into an art form.
On the other hand, the history of Coffee clearly goes back to 15th Century Yemen. For Europeans, they got their first taste about 100 years later. With Venice leading the way. Per the National Coffee Association, it wasn’t a smooth ride: “Some people reacted to this new beverage with suspicion or fear, calling Coffee the ‘bitter invention of Satan.’ The local clergy condemned Coffee when it came to Venice in 1615. The controversy was so great that Pope Clement VIII was asked to intervene. Pope Clement V111 decided to taste the beverage for himself before making a decision, and found Coffee so satisfying that The Pope gave it papal approval.”
Mainland Europe’s first official Coffeehouse opened in Venice around 1645.
Back in the U.S., if it weren’t for the Boston Tea Party in 1773, Americans may never have swapped Tea for Coffee. When the Colonies revolted against King George III’s hefty Tea tax, Tea was out and Coffee was in. Things really started to percolate in the mid 1800s when brothers John and Charles Arbuckle started selling Coffee to cowboys in the American West. James Folger successfully introduced Coffee to gold miners in California. Upon returning to San Francisco in 1865, Folger became a full partner of The Pioneer Steam Coffee and Spice Mills. Which eventually became the J.A. Folger & Co. in 1872.
Other brands including Maxwell House and Hills Brothers soon entered the Coffee market. A yearning for “speciality” Coffee took hold in the 1960s and a little Seattle company called Starbucks changed everything in 1971. Today the U.S. Coffee Shop market has grown to a $45.4 billion industry, according to Allegra World Coffee Portal’s 2019 Project Café USA report. Dry coffee sales topped $9 billion in 2017 in the U.S.
Thanks King George III!
3 WAYS TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL COFFEE DAY
- National Coffee Day encourages folks to gather at a Coffee Shop for the conversation as well as the Coffee. After all, that was the original functon of Coffee Houses from as early as the 1700s. In England, Coffee Houses were dubbed “Penny Universities” because for the cost of a penny, one could drink a strong Coffee and find intelligent, engaging conversation.
- If you’re ready to move beyond your same-old, same-old Coffee Pot, it’s time to get adventurous. Lots of Americans swear by the taste of Coffee produced in a French Press. Others prefer Chemex Brewers, or Cold-brew Drip Makers. Whichever method you try, make sure the Coffee is excellent quality.
- Pick up a cup of Coffee for a coworker, family member, or even the security guard you pass on the street everyday. Wish them a happy National Coffee Day during the hand off!
5 THINGS TO THINK ABOUT WHILE Enjoying A Cup of COFFEE
- Early coffee houses, increasingly known as “Schools for the Wise,” became gathering places for intellectual pursuits, entertainment and table games, like chess in England.
- Hakone Kowakien Yunessun Hot Springs Spa gives you the option to soak in a Coffee bath, along with 26 other choices including Red Wine, Sake or Green Tea.
- In 1746, Swedish King Gustav III ordered doctors to monitor how long it took convicted murderers to die after drinking cups of Coffee, according to the National Coffee Association.
- You probably already know this but, to be clear, Coffee springs from the Fruit of a bush and the so-called “Bean,” is the pit.
- Before drinking his morning brew, the composer, Beethoven, actually counted out 60 Coffee Beans for each cup of Coffee he brewed.
JUST 3 OF THE MILLION REASONS WE LOVE COFFEE
- Coffee makes us feel good first thing in the morning. Coffee makes use of all our senses. We love that deep brown or black color because the richer the color, the more flavorful the brew. Grinding the Coffee Beans and inhaling the earthy smell of the grounds as we brew Coffeeis all part of our daily ritual. At the end, you’re rewarded with the sensuous taste of a good, strong cup of Coffee to get you going for the rest of the day!
- Now that Coffee has gone “designer,” it’s easier than ever to get your Coffee buzz on. Thanks to Seattle, America’s Coffee capital, Coffee caters to people in the biggest Cities and in the smallest Towns. From the classic Dunkin’ Donuts to Starbucks, you can always satisfy your Coffee craving. Get a “regular” in New York City or a Cappuccino in San Francisco. Caribou holds it down in the Midwest and in the South, grab a delicious Coffee at any Waffle House.
- Coffee isn’t just a beverage that perks us up Coffee actually helps our brains produce Dopamine and Adrenaline, improving our memories. Studies show that regular Coffee consumption can reduce the likelihood of developing Dementia by as much as 65%!
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
