According to legend, it was first an Ethiopian sheepherder that tried eating the fruit of the coffee plant. After observing his sheep's level of energy rise after consuming the red cherries in the pasture, he discovered that he, too, could enjoy the same "energy boost" as his herd experienced. A monk that passed through the village condemned him for eating the 'Devil's fruit,' but soon realized that it could keep him and his flock awake for extended meditation.

One tribe in Ethiopia wrapped the green bean in animal fat as their only source of nutrition when they raided other tribe's villages. Pope Vincent III tasted it before banishing it and decided that it was too good for the peasants to have all to themselves. Later in the 1600's, coffee houses ('Penny Universities' -- the cost of a cup being 1 cent) were opened in Europe, giving rise to the café culture we know today; a place for discussion, political dissent, friendship, and informal education.

For centuries coffee has been central in the political, social, and economic culture on every continent. Today, coffee rivals oil as one of the most actively traded products in global markets.

In nearly every country, from tree to cup, café to diner, coffee is a cultural indicator for economy, class and environment. It's presence and experience ties us together, from culture to culture, in common grounds. We can all agree on coffee!