National Coffee Day

Today is National Coffee Day! Are you one of the millions who will celebrate? Send a free Coffee Day eCard,  or add a digital gift card to send your friends on a coffee break! Plus, check out where you can go to get a free cup of joe. There are a number of local and national businesses offering free or discounted cups of coffee to celebrate Coffee Day. Dunkin’ loyalty members can get a free medium coffee with any purchase, and Krispy Kreme will offer a free hot or iced coffee to any customer. Be sure to check your local and regional coffee shops for special promotions as well!

So, where did coffee come from and how did it become so popular? According to legend, a sixth-century Ethiopian goatherd 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. Don't forget to take a coffee break (or two) to celebrate this historical and important beverage!