International Coffee Day

International Coffee Day History

International Coffee Day seeks to celebrate coffee from around the world while honoring the farmers, traders, roasters and baristas responsible for creating the coffees that are enjoyed by so many people worldwide.

According to an Ethiopian legend, coffee, a black bean enclosed in red berry, was discovered by a goat herder in the Ethiopian highlands when he noticed that his goats had become overly energetic after eating the berries. Slowly, the herder's discovery spread throughout the Arabian Peninsula, into Europe and finally to the New World, increasing the demand for coffee and making it the second most sought after commodity in the world today (crude oil being the first).

Organized by the International Coffee Organization and its 75 Member States, International Coffee Day was first celebrated on October 1, 2015 in Milan, Italy at Expo 2015. The International Coffee Organization is an intergovernmental organization that unifies coffee exporting and importing governments through international cooperation with the aim of creating a sustainable coffee market and lowering poverty levels in developing countries that harvest coffee.

Top 10 Facts for International Coffee Day in 2026

• The central theme for this year's observance emphasizes the power of collaboration, highlighting how collective action across the global value chain—from farmers to baristas—is essential for a sustainable and thriving coffee sector.
• International Coffee Day serves as a critical global platform to promote fair trade practices and raise necessary awareness regarding the economic and social challenges faced by coffee growers.
• The observance is officially recognized by the International Coffee Organization, which launched the first coordinated celebration in Milan in 2015 to create a unified day for coffee enthusiasts worldwide.
• While coffee is a staple of American culture, the United States is not among the top ten countries for per capita coffee consumption, with many Nordic and European nations leading in that category.
• The United States maintains a massive coffee economy, with Americans consuming approximately 500 million cups of coffee daily and spending billions of dollars annually on the beverage.
• Coffee is technically a fruit; the items typically referred to as 'beans' are actually the pits found at the center of the coffee cherry.
• Popular legend traces the discovery of coffee’s energizing effects to around 800 AD in Ethiopia, where a goat herder named Kaldi reportedly noticed his flock becoming unusually active after consuming coffee berries.
• The popularity of coffee in the United States as a primary morning beverage is historically linked to the Boston Tea Party of 1773, which prompted colonists to boycott tea in favor of coffee.
• Coffee can only be commercially grown in limited parts of the United States, primarily in Hawaii and Puerto Rico, necessitating that over 99% of the coffee consumed in the country be imported.
• Enthusiasts looking to deepen their knowledge of coffee culture often turn to definitive works such as Uncommon Grounds by Mark Pendergrast or documentaries like Black Gold and From Crop to Cup.

In the News and Trending in the US for International Coffee Day

Top things to do in the US for International Coffee Day

• Make a coffee infused dessert. Our favorite picks:
  Coffee Cream Pie, Coffee cheesecake, Mocha-Walnut Brownies
• Have a Coffee-based alcoholic drink. Here are our favorite picks:
  Brazilian Coffee (made with Kahlua)
  Irish Coffee Creamtini (made with Irish whiskey)
  Mexican Coffee (made with tequila and Kahlua)
  Pitch Dark Coffee Stout Beer
• Get free coffee! Starbucks and other coffee chains offer free coffee on this day!
• Grab a cup of America's favorite best-selling coffee. According to Howard Telford, market researcher at Euromonitor, the nation's best-selling brand of coffee is Keurig, followed by Folgers, Starbucks, Maxwell House then Dunkin' Donuts.
• Try some American-Grown Kona coffee. Harvested in Hawaii, Kona coffee is grown on the volcanic soil of Mauna Loa Volcano, which is an active volcano! Medium-bodied, Kona coffee is also one of the most expensive coffees in the world.