According to legend, the origin of coffee may be traced to a young goatherd named Kaldi in Ethiopia over a thousand years ago. Kaldi noticed his goats were frolicking around after they ate some wild berries and he ate some too. When a passing monk saw the stimulating effect of the berries, he used them to make a beverage—the first coffee.
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The 2012 German film ‘A Coffee in Berlin’ tracks a day in the life of law school dropout Niko Fischer as he struggles to find direction and purpose—and a cup of coffee. ‘A Coffee in Berlin’ is funny, ironic, and melancholy, and ultimately hopeful. For coffee lovers, it validates the notion that sometimes all you need is a cup of coffee to make the world right again.
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The Coffee Trader is a suspenseful historical novel about a commodities trader in 1659 Amsterdam who hatches a bold scheme to corner the fledgling coffee market. Miguel Lienzo, a Portuguese Jew who fled to Amsterdam to escape the Inquisition, is a trader on the Exchange. When he sees an opportunity to build his fortune by controlling the coffee market, he can’t resist, despite the many risks.
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In his classic song “Coffee Blues,” Mississippi John Hurt sings about how he misses his coffee—specifically, his Maxwell House coffee. But even more than his coffee, he misses his girl, who made his coffee but has moved away. Just a “lovin’ spoonful” from her would take care of his blues.
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This great short comedy, a cautionary tale about a coffee-swilling “java junkie,” premiered on “Saturday Night Live” in 1979 and became a cult classic. The film stars Peter Aykroyd as Joe, a regular guy who’s down on his luck and tries to drown his sorrows in coffee. But no amount of coffee is enough.
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The 5-cent 1937 Navy stamp, part of the ten-stamp 1936–1937 Army-Navy commemorative series, honors the United States Military Academy at Annapolis. The stamp can provide a focal point for learning about America’s second oldest service academy.
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The 4-cent 1937 Navy stamp, part of the ten-stamp 1936–1937 Army-Navy series of commemorative postage stamps, honors Admirals William T. Sampson, George Dewey, and Winfield Scott Schley, heroes of the Spanish-American War. Get an introduction to these important military leaders through this stamp.
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The 3-cent 1937 Navy stamp, part of the ten-stamp 1936–1937 Army-Navy series of commemorative postage stamps, honors Civil War Admirals David Farragut and David Dixon Porter. This stamp can serve as a quick introduction to these distinguished American military leaders.
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During World War II, the U.S. government found it necessary to restrict civilian coffee consumption to about half its normal level. Despite record coffee production in Brazil and elsewhere, the war disrupted coffee shipping. The government imposed rationing to make coffee available to all citizens on an equal basis, while giving priority to the needs of the military. Americans did their patriotic duty but were relieved when rationing ended in mid-1943.
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The 2-cent 1937 Navy stamp, part of the ten-stamp Army-Navy commemorative series, honors Stephen Decatur and Thomas Macdonough, naval heroes in the Barbary Wars and the War of 1812. It also features a naval warship of the era. This stamp can be a gateway to learn about early 19th-century naval history.
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