Who would have thought that a berry that was discovered by a herd of goats would be the single most important ingredient in the world’s most popular drink? Legend has it that back in 850AD, a goat herder noticed his herd was full of energy and eating berries he had never noticed. Since the goats seemed to have such a reaction, the herder decided to give it a try! The berries also gave him a burst of energy and he began to feel very happy. Thus, the beginning of the journey for what is now known as coffee! Actually, the story of the goat herder isn’t the only legend surrounding this discovery. It is also said that an Arabian man was banished to the deserts with his followers to die of starvation. His men became very desperate for nourishment and before long, they were boiling and eating the product of an unknown tree. The broth that was produced by this unknown substance saved the lives of the men! In the nearest town, Mocha, many took their survival to be a religious sign. Because of the discovery, the drink was then named Mocha. No matter which story you gravitate to, the bottom line is the same: the berries (actually, the seed of the berry) gave energy and zest to all that would consume it! From it’s earliest beginnings, coffee was thought of as a delicacy and any recipes floating around were considered to be a closely guarded secret! As time passed, the very first coffee trees were harvested around 1100, in the Arabian Peninsula. The coffee drink became a staple of many early civilizations. In the year 1453, There was a law in Turkey that said that a woman could divorce her husband if he didn’t supply her with a daily supply of coffee! The very first known coffee shop was established in Constantinople around the year of 1475 and since that initial introduction to the general public, coffee has pretty much taken over the world! Between 1600-1700, there were many advancements, including the world’s first coffee house and the beginnings of commercial production (made by the Dutch). By the middle 1700’s, there were about 2000 coffee shops in Venice, alone! The first prototype of an espresso machine (made in Italy) was unveiled in the early 1800’s. In the early 1900’s, the first drip coffee machine was invented, making the coffee making process a little less daunting! The automatic espresso maker began its journey in the 1930’s. By the late 1900’s, coffee became the most popular beverage in the world! The coffee is harvested in many countries, including: Africa, Ethiopia, Brazil, North America, Italy and even Turkey. This kind of crop can also be easily grown and exported by many third world countries, as well. Made to tempt even the pickiest palate, coffee has evolved to include hundreds of flavors and varying grades and prices.

For most everyone, gift-giving can be quite a daunting experience. We would like to find that one perfect gift, but what do you get for that hard-to-buy-for person or special occasion? Gift Baskets are so versatile that they can be used for any occasion and are sure to please everyone on your list. Making gift baskets is an excellent way to provide personalized gifts for friends and family. They can be fun to make and receive. Deciding the theme of the basket is typically the hard part. It's easiest to focus on hobbies and favorite interests, although food can also be the focus of the basket. Are you looking for a gift for a gardener, a new car owner, a college student, baby or new Mother? Gift baskets are an answer to your gift-giving prayers. What kinds of items should you included in a gift basket? The sky's the limit, along with your budget. To provide a smile to a gardener's face, include gloves, tools, seed packets, terra cotta pots or hat. You might even include a coffee mug decorated with flowers and herbal tea to enjoy after working in the garden. You can put the items for this gift in a garden basket or even in a big straw hat. Getting a new car is an exciting event, especially for the first-time buyer. Help them celebrate the purchase with a gift of air freshener, car wash, chamois, tire cleaner and an ice scraper? Add a visor organizer and a silly item like a pair of fuzzy dice or a Squirrel tail for their antenna, put it all in a wash bucket and your new car owner is set for the road. Sending a friend or family member off to college? Put together a "care package" gift basket. You can include a box of homemade cookies, a mug, hot chocolate mix and microwave popcorn and other snacks for those late-night study sessions. A framed family picture, compact disc and a phone card will help ease any signs of homesickness. Throw in a roll of quarters for laundry and put it all in a laundry basket. As you are able to see, ideas for creating gift baskets are virtually unlimited. When you have chosen all the gifts for your basket, it's time for the assembly. Select a container which will hold your gifts. The container itself doesn't have to be expensive but, should fit the theme of the gift, if possible. If you cannot think of a special container, a laundry basket would serve a dual purpose. Some other items you will need for the basket are packing paper, shredded colored paper, floral picks or even greenery, 24"-30" clear cellophane, and curling ribbon. You want the gifts in the basket to be visible, so you'll need to fill the bottom of the basket with wadded packing paper. Push the paper firmly in place, leaving the top forth of the basket exposed. Add shredded paper to the top of the basket. Shredded paper is available in many colors and styles at virtually all craft stores, however if you have access to a paper shredder you can make your own. Place the taller items in back, forming a "wall". Lean the medium-sized items against this wall, and place smaller gifts along the front rim of the basket. You can add floral picks or greenery to fill in any empty spaces, to enhance the overall look of the basket. Wrap the basket with cellophane. Gather the cellophane on the front and back of the basket, overlapping the sides towards the back. Use a piece of ribbon to tie the cellophane securely. Tape the sides of the cellophane down. To finish the basket add a couple more lengths of ribbon, curling the ends, and attach a card.

Since it’s first induction as the world’s most popular beverage, coffee has gone through many changes and improvements. These improvements allow coffee drinkers the chance to choose between many different grades and flavors of the coffee. Whether you are a coffee connoisseur or just need your morning pick me up, there’s nothing to tempt the palate quite like a hot mug of smooth gourmet coffee! To fully appreciate a cup of hot gourmet coffee, you should take a minute to familiarize yourself with the basics of gourmet coffee. The coffee bean is not really a bean; they are actually the seeds of a cherry that are found on a coffee tree. There are a couple of different ways to extract the seed; wet process and dry process. Each process will bring about the shared result of removing all of the fruit from the seed. There are two grades of coffee: Robusta and Arabica. The Robusta makes up the coffee that contains the most caffeine, at the lowest price. Arabica (a.k.a. gourmet) coffee is the superior grade. It has half the caffeine of Robusta and has a more desirable taste. Those that enjoy this type of coffee will also tell you that gourmet coffee has a much better smell and more desirable flavors than Robusta. Gourmet coffee is available in many of your favorite flavors, including: almond, amaretto, Irish crème, French vanilla, Swiss mocha, vanilla, chocolate, mint, peppermint, pumpkin spice and just about anything else you can imagine! Basically, if there is any flavor that you are partial to, you will be able to find. There are gourmet coffees that are caffeinated and those that are decaffeinated. If you have a sensitive stomach, you can even find gourmet style coffee that is low in acid, making it a little more gentle. Arabica coffee ranks very high among the Specialty Coffee Association of America, which pretty much sets the standards applied to gourmet coffee drinks. Many coffee making companies offer a gourmet style drink, including: Gevalia, Green Mountain, San Giorgio, San Francisco Bay, Kona and Javalution. The gourmet coffee beans are offered in a variety of different serving sizes. They are also offered at many different prices, depending on your personal preference. Though this type of coffee may be a bit more pricey than the Robusta, it’s the only choice for true coffee lovers!

People drink coffee to stay awake and get more things done. But how can you get more things done if you’re waiting around for your coffee to brew. Oh sure you can go buy a cup of coffee but at some point you going to want a cup at home. With a coffee pod maker you’re only 30 seconds away from an excellent cup of coffee. Senseo was one of the first coffee pod makers available. And having sold more than 10 million units in four years Senseo is definitely here to stay. A coffee pod looks just like a round tea bag. It works like this. You fill the coffee maker with water, place a coffee pod in the receptacle, hit the button and thirty seconds later you have a great cup of coffee. A patented method that uses a special spray head and mild pressure to balance the ratio of coffee to water while brewing creates a rich frothy cup of coffee. If you’re looking for great tasting coffee that’s convenient and time saving then try pod coffee. Coffee pods are available in different brew strengths including dark roast, medium roast and mild roast. You can usually buy a package of 72 coffee pods for less than twenty dollars. Since you can also buy a 33 oz can of coffee grinds for about five to 10 dollars at the supermarket, coffee pods are not for budget minded coffee drinkers. That large can will definitely contain a lot more than 72 cups of coffee. But remember you’re paying a premium for a no mess, no measuring, easy cleanup, ready in thirty seconds, cup of a coffee. For some people that’s money well spent. Cleanup is a breeze, just discard the pod. Since the coffee grinds are enclosed in a pod instead of a filter there’s less of a chance of spilling them all over your kitchen floor. The pod receptacle is even dishwasher safe. Another reason to buy a coffee pod maker, especially a Senseo, is that the machines are so good looking. They are sleek, stylish and will look great on your countertop. Coffee isn’t just for breakfast anymore, it’s an all day long affair. Why not make coffee pods part of your daily routine? About the author: Anthony Tripodi is the webmaster of EndlessCoffeeBreak.com - The Guide To Coffee. For more information about coffee including speciality coffee drink recipes, ideas and equipment, visit http://www.endlesscoffeebreak.com