Coffee has been one of the most popular beverages in the world for centuries. As much as any food or drink, coffee is integral to the economies and social order of many nations. The coffee industry employs millions of people cultivating, selling, and marketing the beverage, while people have long gathered in coffee houses and coffee shops across the globe to socialize, discuss major issues of the day, and even make history over cups of coffee.

The International Coffee Organization estimates that 1.6 billion cups of coffee are consumed every day. Even after more than 1,000 years, coffee’s versatility is astonishing. The ways in which the beverage is served is almost as varied as the people who drink it. This goal of this website is to inform - and maybe inspire - even the most dedicated coffee drinker.

It all began in northeast Ethiopia, where the stimulating effects of coffee were discovered. Eventually the drink made its way into the Middle East and the Arab world, and from there, Italy, Europe and its colonies. Along the way, each civilization integrated coffee into its culture, fashioning new ways to brew it and drink it. This integration continues today, with coffee house chains, ready-to-drink coffees from in supermarkets, and home roasting and brewing technology. Coffee, by all measurements, is as popular as ever.

Coffee, of course, starts with seeds, commonly called beans, which come from cherries grown on trees in over 70 countries. Raw, unroasted coffee is one of the most traded agricultural commodities in the world. Beans are produced primarily by two species of the genus coffea: arabica and robusta, a form of coffea canephora. Brazil, Vietnam, and Colombia are the world’s largest coffee producers.

There’s lots more to tell about this beverage that truly belongs to the world. Explore this site for more on the history of coffee. Learn about the different varieties of coffee and the many types of drinks. There are recipes, too. We appreciate a good cup of coffee in all its forms, and we hope you do, too.