National Coffee Day

Yessssss. A day dedicated to one of my, nay, the world's most coveted beverages. It's National Coffee Day! And while the big chains like Starbucks and Dunkin' are dishing out free (small) brews, I implore you to go visit a local, independent coffee shop and sample something you've never tried before. Abandon your sugary, milk laden go-to drink, and watch a skilled barista carefully craft your coffee. Savor the aroma while you sip. Leave your computer at home, your phone in your pocket, and talk to people behind the counter about coffee. Or whatever. Talk to the person sitting next to you. Coffee shops are unique places to interact, with a similar vibe to a bar, but with distinct differences. If you're drinking a brew from a mysterious faraway place, make a note and look up some stuff about it later. If you're even more curious, I've taken the liberty of compiling a list of some history* behind the bean.

A piece from NPR's "The Salt" on how coffee impacted history.

History of coffee according to the National Coffee Association

PBS Food

*Note that some of the info will be similar on each link, hence why I only listed three. The "Legend of Kaldi the goat herder has many variations.

And here's some sweet infographic goodness.