By Storm Stoker
What’s better than a cup of coffee in the morning to start your long day of working and studying? Literally nothing! There are so many cliché meme’s and t-shirts making threats of outright violence to anyone who dares to talk to a coffee lover before they have had their morning brew. Why is America so obsessed with coffee, as opposed to tea or some other caffeinated beverage? Well, there is a bit of history behind that.
The history of coffee dates back to at least the 15th century in Yemen, where monks from the Sufi monasteries in Mokha brewed the first beans. Many postulate that the invention of more advanced mathematics is directly linked to this caffeinated beverage and the intellectual debates that occurred in early coffee houses. Coffee then spread to Europe in the early 17th century where it was greeted by much trepidation and even labeled the devil’s drink due to its bitter taste. The pope finally approved of the drink and its popularity was permanently perked.
One of the reasons you can’t get a decent cup of tea in America is because of the Boston Tea Party in 1773. Steaming over being overtaxed by England, protestors threw bales of tea into the Boston harbor and declared coffee as America’s new favorite drink. I used to work on a touristy three-masted sailing ship in Boston Harbor and was tasked with reenacting the protest so I know the story well. “Throw the tea into the sea!” We would shout gleefully and then throw the fake tea bails overboard. I was also a barista at one of the first espresso houses in Hilo back in 1994, so coffee and me go way back. I share the rather extreme fondness for coffee I see in many memes.
Sixty-four percent of Americans drink coffee on a regular basis and their favorite coffee drink is the latte or just a nice black coffee. The average American drinks three cups a day which equates to 140 billion cups a year! No wonder we are all a bit jumpy! Simmer down America! The population is getting more calcium with all those milky drinks, so hopefully the benefits will outweigh the costs. Speaking of costs, 79% of Americans brew their coffee at home, those frugal bean counters! However, if you are like me and prefer to grab a coffee out, on National Coffee Day- you might be able to get a cup for free!
Coffee Statistics: urbanbeancoffee.com/coffee/usa-coffee-statistics/
Follow the Library:
