How Sweet the Brew

Coffee, tea, hot cocoa  - yum- yum, each carries with it an aroma and goodness that is possibly only surpassed by pure chocolate! Different tastes call for indulgence in different brews so What is your brew? Regardless of your preference, it is coffee in the spotlight for this day's celebration.

September 29 is...

National Coffee Day

Are you one of the millions who will celebrate? Start by sending a free Coffee Day eCard and then find out where you can go to get a free cup of joe. There are number of local and national businesses offering free or discounted cups of coffee to celebrate Coffee Day 2014.

Some of the National Coffee Day deals include:

• Krispy Kreme is giving away a free cup of joe  & glazed doughnut to any customer who shows up - no purchase required - at participating locations. 

• Dunkin’ Donuts is celebrating its 66th birthday: medium-sized cups of coffee are selling for 66 cents.
• Starbucks, the nation's most prominent coffee chain, isn't offering any discounts but will donate a coffee tree for every cup of brewed Mexican Chiapas cup of coffee in the US and Mexico.
  
  Keep an eye out for other local offers!

So, where did coffee come from and how did it become so popular? According to legend, a sixth-century Ethiopian goatherder named Kaldi discovered his goats frolicking from one coffee shrub to another. He realized the coffee berries had a stimulating effect, and he began to experiment with the seeds. A century later, brewed coffee emerged in Arabia and the popularity of coffee grew at an exponential rate.

Today, over 400 billion cups of coffee are consumed each year. It is a world commodity that is second only to oil.

A Bit of Coffee Trivia...

Okay, all you coffee lovers, what is your knowledge of this aromatic, acidic drink that begins your day, uplifts your afternoon and often times lends itself to sleepless nights? It is so-o-o-o-o g-o-o-o-ood to some of us that we indulge on a regular basis regardless of the day or night! It's hard to believe that coffee has not always been the pleasantest of brew. Who do we thank for the elimination of the coffee grounds in every cup and when did coffee reach the shores of America?

Ways of the World (Merci Beaucoup)

Having reached its way to America in the seventeenth century, it was not until the eighteenth century, when the French introduced infusion brewing, did one enjoy a cup without the coffee grounds.

Oh, those clever French
Whose aromatic scents
Tickle the nostrils

Without any dissents 

First to boast coffee

No grinds in the cup

Found a linen bag

Steeped it just enough

Then there’s the Dutch 

With a gift to the king 

One tiny sprout 

Did millions it bring 

Oh-so desired coffee plant 

That one tiny sprout 

On to the Caribbean

Yea, there and about

Then to the Americas 

In ships on the high seas 

Highly sought-after seedlings 

 Become the drink to please

Black coffee

Cafe au Lait

Cappuccino, too 

 Alluring while steaming hot 

Even iced will do

Mmm! To the French I say 

 How sweet the brew 

For a great cup of coffee 

Merci beaucoup!

  ©2013 Awakenings

 Sharla Lee Shults

 “Ah! How sweet coffee tastes! Lovelier than a thousand kisses, sweeter than muscatel wine! I must have my coffee…”
—JohannSebastian Bach (1685–1750)

 Don't like to drink coffee? Why not EAT it...in a recipe, that is!

7 Enticing Coffee Recipes for National Coffee Day

 Happy National Coffee Day!

Don't forget to take a coffee break (or two) to celebrate this historical and important beverage! 

 Is your mouth watering yet?

yum, yum, yum . . . yummy!

*****