Isn't It Time for a Coffee Break?

I was under the mistaken assumption when I planned this blog post that International Coffee Day was on August 29 and that today, the 25th, was the date that post should appear. But a bit of research showed that the United Nations have designated it to be commemorated on October 1 instead. And we all know that if the UN mandates it, it must be obeyed!

Tough! I've already done my research and writing, so here is my post, UN or no UN!

The first thing I do every night before going to bed is get the coffee maker ready, inserting the filter, adding the coffee, and filling the reservoir with fresh water. And the first thing I do in the morning is turn on the machine. By the time I'm fully awake enough to see what I'm doing, the coffee is ready.

That's something I'm not alone in doing. It happens in countless homes and businesses all over the nation. And even more people buy their coffee on the way to work or have a cup brewed at their job sites. Perhaps the greatest coffee connoisseur I know is my brother Dale. He seems always to have a cup in his hand.

Americans drink an estimated 400 million cups of coffee a day, and we aren't even in the top ten of coffee-consuming countries of the world. In fact, we rank fourteenth, behind the Netherlands (number 1), the Scandinavian countries, and a bunch of other countries.

Oil has been called "black gold," but coffee could just as well qualify for that moniker. From 180-190 million bags of coffee beans are produced each year with a market value of $250-300 billion dollars. The sale of unprocessed coffee beans alone is worth $54.7 billion a year.

The two most popular types of coffee beans are Arabica and Robusta, which is stronger than Arabica with double the caffeine. So if you need a quick wake-me-up or pick-me-up, reach for a Robusta brew!

The most popular types of coffee drinks made from these beans are

• Espresso, a strong, concentrated brew made under high pressure;

• Latte, which is espresso mixed with a lot of steamed milk and a thin layer of foam;

• Cappuccino, equal parts espresso, steamed milk, and foam;

• Mocha, espresso and steamed milk mixed with chocolate; and

• Cold brew, coffee steeped in cold water for many hours.

Every coffee drinker has his or her own preferences for their brews, both taste and brands, so it's hard to tell which specific brands are the most preferred. But the website tastingtable.com ranked 31 different brands and listed them from lowest to highest. According to them, the rankings are as follows (I've omitted brands I've never heard of!).

Chock ful o' Nuts (31). One of the oldest surviving coffee companies in the U.S. , so it can't be all that bad if it's still around and making sales.

Nescafe (30). This Swiss-made coffee makes me think of instant coffee.

Yuban (29). Another old company, but their quality must be declining.

Maxwell House (28). Surprisingly ranked so low, this is the "good to the last drop" coffee, or so their advertisements would have you believe.

Kirkland's (27). This is the Costco brand.

McCafe (26). Coffee was one of the menu items of the very first McDonald's restaurant when it opened in 1955. (I was too young to drink coffee then, but I was getting plenty of warm milk!)

Gevalia (23). Another foreign-made coffee. Swedish.

Folger's (21). Again, I was surprised by the relatively low ranking of this popular brand, which is touted as "the best part of wakin' up."

Eight O' Clock Coffee (20). Its name sounds like it is only for first-of-the-morning coffee drinkers, but it's especially popular in the K-cup form.

Green Mountain Coffee (18). Also a popular K-cup brew.

Death Wish Coffee Co. (15). I have no death wish, so no matter where they rank it, I'll pass! It sounds too strong for me.

Community Coffee (14). It's still a family-owned business and is popular in K-cup form.

Dunkin' (11). Originally part of the donut-focused company, their coffee has lately overshadowed their eats.

Starbucks (6). No surprise here, unless it's that they aren't ranked number 1. But they tend to be pricey and a sort of social status symbol as much as a taste preference for many.

The number 1 ranking went to another brand I've never heard of, Stumptown Coffee Roasters. But then again, I tend to go with price as much as (or often more than) flavor. Anyway, I'm a bit leery of any coffee that even sounds like it might have been made with stump water!

In my pantry, one could find at various times ground coffees by Folgers (especially Black Silk), Maxwell House, Chock ful o' Nuts (rarely), Chase and Sanborn (also rarely), and JFG. The latter company was founded in 1882 by J. Floyd Goodson (hence the initials), and they have made coffee in my hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee, since 1919. Their coffee is 100 percent Arabica, flame roasted, and made in the Volunteer State. Besides, it's advertised as "the best part of the meal."

In my Keurig dispenser are another mixture of brew brands: Folger's Black Silk, Community American Classic and Cafe Special, McCafe, Dunkin', Black Rifle, and Ingles Best and Ingles Donut Shop, a regional supermarket brand. (I like variety in my coffees!)

Whatever kind of coffee you're drinking today and wherever it might be ranked, an early happy International Coffee Day to you. May you have "the best part of wakin' up," may it be "the best part of [your] meal," and may it be "good to the last drop."