Is there anything better than pouring yourself a cup of hot gourmet coffee on a cold January morning? If you just said no, then you’re probably going to want to take the time to celebrate National Gourmet Coffee Day with us.

Many people define “gourmet coffee” as any coffee that’s made with 100% Arabica beans instead of the less popular Robusta beans. This gives the brewed coffee a full body, rich flavor, and a fine aroma. These coffees tend to be more expensive than those made with Robusta beans.

Arabica beans take longer to grow and are harder to process than other types of beans, and maybe that’s what people taste when they’re enjoying coffee brewed with them. Let’s find out on January 18th, shall we?

The History Of National Gourmet Coffee Day

Hundreds of years ago, ancient coffee forests existed on the Ethiopian plateau. It was in one of these forests that an ancient goat herder named Kaldi first discovered what coffee beans could be used for after he noticed that his goats became more energetic after eating them.

The goats were so energetic, in fact, that they wouldn’t go to sleep that night. Kaldi knew he was onto something, so he decided to report what he had found to the local monastery.

The abbot of the local monastery made a drink with the berries and quickly learned that they made him more alert during the evening prayers. The abbot then shared this discovery with the other monks at the monastery, and soon everyone was enjoying these berries brewed in water. This information was passed beyond the walls of the monastery, and that’s when coffee beans began to spread around the globe.

By the 15th and 16th centuries, coffee was being cultivated in Arabia, Persia, Egypt, Turkey, and Syria. It was enjoyed by people in their homes and in coffee houses known as Qahveh Khaneh.

Coffee then quickly spread throughout Europe. It should be no surprise to anyone that the same period when coffee was traveling across Africa, Asia, and Europe is the same time as the Renaissance Period.

The Renaissance Period ran from the 14th century through the 17th century and was marked by an incredible cultural, political, economic, and artistic rebirth of Europe. Perhaps it’s a coincidence, but we don’t think so. We think that the Renaissance was fueled by coffee.

Observing National Gourmet Coffee Day

Hmm, let’s see. How are we going to celebrate National Gourmet Coffee Day? Is it going to be by enjoying a nice cup of hot tea or maybe a milkshake? We think not. The only way to really observe this holiday is to enjoy a steaming cup of gourmet coffee.

Go ahead and splurge a little bit and get a coffee that not only packs a caffeinated punch but also tastes great. And while you’re doing so, don’t forget to use the hashtag #NationalGourmetCoffeeDay on social media.