National Coffee Day, also known simply as Coffee Day, is a holiday that celebrates one of the most loved and widely consumed hot beverages in the world. It’s a day that shouldn’t be confused with International Coffee Day, which falls on October 1st and was originally created by the International Coffee Organization and launched in Milan.

National Coffee Day is observed not only in the U.S. on September 29th but is also celebrated in a wide number of other countries, including Australia, Austria, Canada, Hungary, Iceland, and many others.

On October 1st, other countries have their own coffee days, and these include Ireland, Germany, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, and New Zealand.

The History Of Coffee

While not much is known about the origin of this holiday, the history of coffee is much easier to determine. According to legend, it was discovered in the Ethiopian highlands by a goat herder who noticed that the fruit of the coffee plant had a stimulating effect on his goats.

So he decided to experiment with them a little, and voilà—coffee was born! He shared his findings with the local monastery, and before long, everyone was making a drink from the coffee plant.

Coffee quickly spread across the Arabian Peninsula, and by the sixteenth century, it was prevalent in all parts of Persia, Turkey, and Syria. It eventually traveled to Europe by the seventeenth century and to the New World by the end of the seventeenth century.

Extra Caffeinated Facts About Coffee

Ready for a double shot of trivia? If you are, then you’ve come to the right place. We’ve gathered together a nice list of some of the coffee factoids we like the best.

The following pieces of trivia are sure to give you something to talk about while you’re sipping your coffee and celebrating National Coffee Day with friends and family members. Okay, pour yourself a cup of coffee, and let’s get started, shall we?

Coffee Beans Are Really Seeds

Yes, I know we all call them coffee beans, but that’s not really correct. They’re actually the pits of cherry-like fruits found on flowering shrubs. We call them beans because that’s what they resemble.

Coffee Cherries Can Be Made Into A Wine

The coffee cherry is the fruit that surrounds what we call the coffee beans. These outer fruit casings are not only edible but can also be fermented to make delicious wine.

Only Two U.S. States Grow Coffee

There are only two states in the United States that grow coffee. That’s because coffee requires a very specific climate, so it’s usually grown in areas around the equator. The two states that do grow coffee include Hawaii—a state known for producing Kona coffee, and California.

Brazil Grows A Third Of The World’s Supply Of Coffee

About one-third of the world’s coffee supply is grown in Brazil. This is approximately twice as much as Vietnam, which is second on the list of countries that grow the most coffee.

Kopi Luwak Is Some Expensive Coffee

Kopi Luwak is one of the most expensive coffees in the world. It’s made from partially digested coffee cherries that have been eaten and then defecated by the Asian palm civet. This coffee is mainly produced on the Indonesian islands of Bali, East Timor, Sumatra, Java, and Sulawesi. Kopi Luwak costs approximately $600 a pound.

Moderate Consumption Of Coffee Is Healthy

One thing that researchers have discovered is that moderate consumption of coffee is actually healthy for you. Drinking three or four cups of coffee a day has been linked to lower risks of cardiovascular disease, Parkinson’s disease, type 2 diabetes, and a longer lifespan.

Some Of Our Favorite Coffee Drinks

We don’t think that any discussion of National Coffee Day would be complete without talking about some of the wonderful coffee drinks that exist. At least, that’s what we initially thought.

Then we realized that there were thousands of different coffee drinks, and there’s absolutely no way we can list them all. That’s when we knew that we had to make some difficult choices and choose only the ones that we liked the best. Of course, finding out which coffee is our favorite isn’t as easy as it may sound.

It’s kind of like asking a parent which child is their favorite. However, we were able to figure it out, and we eventually did come up with a list of our favorite coffee drinks. Perhaps one of these drinks is suitable for you to enjoy on this great holiday.

• Espresso Americano: Espresso with 100 ml of hot water, served in a cappuccino cup.
• Café Mocha: Two cl of chocolate sauce, an espresso shot, and steamed milk, all topped with whipped cream and chocolate.
• Flat White: A double espresso with milk, served in a glass.
• Irish Coffee: Irish whiskey mixed with coffee and topped with whipped cream.
• Café Cubano: A sweetened espresso shot.
• Red Eye: This is 6 ounces of drip-brewed coffee that’s been fortified with a shot of espresso.
• Vienna: Two shots of espresso with two ounces of whipped cream.
• Iced Coffee: Four ounces of ice, two ounces of drip coffee (or espresso), four ounces of milk, and some kind of flavoring syrup (we like chocolate).
• Black Coffee: Yep, just plain black coffee is sometimes all you need.

Customs, Traditions, And Celebrations Of National Coffee Day

The best way to celebrate National Coffee Day is to enjoy your favorite cup of Joe. This is easy to do on this holiday because many different businesses often pass out coupons for free or reduced cups of coffee on this day. So choose your favorite brew and enjoy this popular beverage.

You can feel free to choose from one of the coffee drinks we’ve listed above or to create your own coffee drink. On National Coffee Day, you can have any type of coffee that your heart desires. You can even have coffee-flavored ice cream if you want.