International Coffee Day

Coffee collage. Anja / Pixabay.com / 2011 / CC0 1.0

The 1st of October is International Coffee Day.

The day is officially promoted by the International Coffee Organization in partnership with other coffee associations.

The day provides an opportunity to thank and support coffee growers and workers, as well as to celebrate and share your love of the beverage.

International Coffee Day Banner

How many cups of coffee do you need to get going in the morning? Do you take milk or cream in your coffee, and do you like your coffee with sweetener in it, or unsweetened, or any way it comes?

Coffee is actually a “seed” drink — we call them “coffee beans” but they are actually seeds!

Coffee is both a personal pick-me-up, and a sociable beverage.

What are your favourite three coffee chains? Or, do you avoid them and frequent local independents, instead. Do you belong to any coffee loyalty programmes?

Some people swear by the nostalgic smell of perked coffee. But what about the taste of it, after it’s been simmering on the stove for a few hours?

Many people are very particular about their coffee at home, grinding their own beans and using expensive coffee machines to brew it. A few keeners might even roast their own beans at home. What is your favourite type of device to brew coffee? Do you like iced coffees?

Many people are in disbelief when they learn that many, many people still buy, and actually like, and even prefer, instant coffee. In fact, instant coffee sales are increasing by 5% a year, and as the Chinese develop a taste for coffee, 65 percent to 70 percent of them are buying instant. ^[1]Zhuoqiong, Wang. Instant coffee gets huge sales boost in China. Beijing, China: China Daily. 27 February 2021. Accessed October 2021 at https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202102/17/WS602c822aa31024ad0baa922a.html

Some restaurants today may offer a free coffee with the purchase of something else, or a second cup for a penny. Would you ever drink coffee with a meal? What do you like with your coffee? A doughnut; a cookie? Fresh fruit?

You may ask yourself, what about the supposed “Coffee Day” a few days earlier in September? What’s that about? Well, that is one of what some people call “fake food holidays” which are created randomly by lord knows who, whereas this day is the “real McCoy”, created and sponsored by the world association for coffee.

And since this is International Coffee Day, one final question for you to ponder: what do you think are the top three cities in the world to get a coffee in?

#InternationalCoffeeDay #Coffee

Website: https://www.internationalcoffeeday.org/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/icocoffeeorg and https://twitter.com/hashtag/internationalcoffeeday

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ICOcoffeeorg/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/international-coffee-organization/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/icocoffeeorg

See also: Coffee, Caffeine Day, Cafe Au Lait Day, Cappuccino Day, Coffee Day, Coffee Cake Day, Macchiato Day

Cafe. Pexels / Pixabay.com / 2016 / CC0 1.0

Themes

Each year International Coffee Day has a different theme.

Themes for the year were introduced starting in 2018. ^[2]”Another innovation has been the introduction of an annual theme for the work of the Organization, in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.” ICO Annual Review 2017 / 2018. Page 5. The theme is also the organization’s theme for the year.

• 2021: Coffee’s Next Generation
• 2020: The challenges coffee farmers are facing ^[3]Haynes, Madisson. More Than a Drink: How to Celebrate International Coffee Day. PBS. 1 October 2020. Accessed October 2021 at https://www.pbs.org/articles/2020/10/international-coffee-day/
• 2019: Sustainability ^[4]October 1st 2019. International Coffee Day. Milan, Italy: 101Caffe. Accessed October 2021 at https://www.101caffe.it/en/october-1st-2019-international-coffee-day/
• 2018: Women in Coffee ^[5]Pughash, Melissa and Margaret Swallow. ICO International Coffee Day Highlights Women in Coffee. The National Coffee Association of USA. 11 September 2018. Accessed October 2021 at https://nationalcoffee.blog/tag/international-coffee-day/

Activities for today

• Try a cold brew coffee;
• treat yourself to a boozy coffee after dinner;
• try a coffee-flavoured dessert;
• share a photo of your coffee today on social media and tag it with the hash tag for today;
• organize an art display with a coffee theme;
• visit a coffee shop that actually roasts its coffee beans right there;
• host a coffee tasting;
• give someone a gift of coffee-themed jewellery;
• consider investigating Fair Trade coffees, in order to support coffee growers better;
• check apps for deals and promotions;
• if you think instant coffees are beyond the pale, consider trying a premium one;
• treat yourself to some coffee-flavoured candy, such as maybe a Coffee Crisp bar.

Resources

The Value of Coffee (Free micro-course, The Open University)

“This course explores the economic and cultural value of coffee. You will follow the chain of processes that connect the drink you enjoy on a daily basis with circuits of economic and cultural value, hearing from coffee farmers and consumers in different parts of the world.”

Why Does Coffee Make You Poop?

History

The holiday was established by a vote of the International Coffee Organization in 2014:

“In March 2014, the Member States of the ICO agreed to organise International Coffee Day on 1 October.” ^[6]1 October is International Coffee Day. International Coffee Organization. Accessed October 2021 at https://www.ico.org/international-coffee-day.asp

The first year in which it was observed was 2015. The ceremonies launching the day were held in Milan as part of Expo 2015 ^[7]International Coffee Day. Speciality Coffee Association of Europe. 18 June 2015. Accessed at https://scae.com/component/content/article?id=212:international-coffee-day .

Before then, there had been a few people who had pronounced an “International” or “National” Coffee Day over the years in various places, but this was the first officially endorsed and supported one.

International Coffee Day Banner Poster

Sources

1 October is International Coffee Day. International Coffee Organization. Accessed October 2021 at https://www.ico.org/international-coffee-day.asp

Das, Tapatrisha. International Coffee Day 2021: All about its date, history and significance. New Delhi, India: The Hindustan Times. 1 October 2021. Accessed October 2021 at https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/health/international-coffee-day-2021-all-about-its-date-history-and-significance-101633005626389.html

DeMontis, Rita. International Coffee Day means time to celebrate with your fave cup of joe. Toronto, Canada: The Toronto Sun. 30 September 2021. Accessed October 2021 at https://torontosun.com/life/food/international-coffee-day-means-time-to-celebrate-with-your-fave-cup-of-joe

Easington, Nathaniel. Celebrate International Coffee Day In The Best American Cities For Coffee Lovers. Forbes Magazine. 1 October 2021. Accessed October 2021 at https://www.forbes.com/sites/nathanieleasington/2021/10/01/celebrate-international-coffee-day-in-the-best-american-cities-for-coffee-lovers

Ferdman, Roberto A. Almost half of the world actually prefers instant coffee. Washington, DC: The Washington Post. 14 July 2014. Accessed October 2021 at https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2014/07/14/almost-half-of-the-world-actually-prefers-instant-coffee/

Happy International Coffee Day! Eurostat. 1 October 2021. Accessed October 2021 at https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-eurostat-news/-/edn-20211001-1

Haynes, Madisson. More Than a Drink: How to Celebrate International Coffee Day. PBS. 1 October 2020. Accessed October 2021 at https://www.pbs.org/articles/2020/10/international-coffee-day/

Martinez, A. How to brew your best cup of Joe for International Coffee Day. National Public Radio. 1 October 2021. Accessed October 2021 at https://www.npr.org/2021/10/01/1042209265/how-to-brew-your-best-cup-of-joe-for-international-coffee-day

McDonald, Elizabeth. The best ways to celebrate International Coffee Day in Sydney. Sydney, Australia: TimeOut Magazine. 28 September 2021. Accessed October 2021 at https://www.timeout.com/sydney/restaurants/the-best-ways-to-celebrate-international-coffee-day-in-sydney

Pasiya, Lutho. International Coffee Day: 10 most interesting facts to know about coffee. South Africa: Independent Online. 1 October 2021. Accessed October 2021 at https://www.iol.co.za/lifestyle/food-drink/drink/international-coffee-day-10-most-interesting-facts-to-know-about-coffee-a708e386-e643-44a4-b303-5b2af3d0a875

Roets, Adriaan. International Coffee Day 2021: The Science Behind Caffeine. Perth, Australia: Engineering Institute of Techology. 28 September 2021. Accessed October 2021 at https://www.eit.edu.au/international-coffee-day-2021-the-science-behind-caffeine/

Tyko, Kelly. International Coffee Day: Get a deal at McDonald’s, plus free coffee at Casey’s, Panera and more. USA Today. 29 September 2021. Accessed October 2021 at https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/food/2021/09/29/coffee-day-2021-free-coffee-starbucks-mcdonalds-deals/5905997001/

Varandani, Suman. International Coffee Day 2021 Quotes. New York, New York: International Business Times. 1 October 2021. Accessed October 2021 at https://www.ibtimes.com/international-coffee-day-2021-quotes-10-sayings-about-your-favorite-caffeinated-drink-3307992

Wright, Katie. International Coffee Day: 7 wellness benefits of caffeine, according to science. London, England: The Independent. 1 October 2021. Accessed October 2021 at
https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/caffeine-disease-norwegian-japan-b1930395.html