The most widely accepted legend with the discovery of coffee concerns a goat herder named Kaldi of Ethiopia. Around the year 600 A.D., Kaldi was amazed as he noticed his goats behaving in a frisky manner after eating the leaves and berries of a coffee shrub. Of course, he had to try them.

The coffee plant was first cultivated in Yemen in the seventh century.

The Arabs are generally believed to be the first to brew coffee.

Shortly before the year 1000 A.D., coffee was frequently administered as medicine.

A Frenchman, Lebrun, invented the first espresso machine in 1838.

During the revolution, the founding fathers of the U.S. formed their national strategies in coffeehouses.

Why have gourmet coffee and espresso become the social beverage of the 90's? Is it because in the past 10 years, the teetotalerscount is up by 28% in the U.S.? We're drinking mochas, not martinis.

One pound of coffee in New York was worth as much as four acres of land. The year, 1683

Why did Frederick the Great of Prussia hate coffee so much? He thought it drained Prussian money that could be spent locally. "My people must drink beer!" he cried.

Lloyd's of London Began as Edward Lloyd's coffeehouse.

Coffee continues to play an important roll in Turkish custom an social life. It is part of traditional courtship for a prospective bride to demonstrate her coffee making skills to the parents of the suitor.

Seatle has became the espresso capital of the world with gourmet coffee sales reaching 40% of the total coffee market share.

In The U.S. 90% of espresso is consumed with steamed milk. In Italy 90% of espresso in consumed straight and 10% with steamed milk.

In 1763 there were over 200 coffee shops in Venice, yet the worlds first public restaurant in Paris would not open until 1770.