Today is National Coffee Day, and for many, it’s a chance to celebrate that first-morning cup that helps us face the day. But for me, coffee has never really been about the caffeine hit. It’s about the flavour, the craft, and the story behind each cup.
Coffee is a skill, an art form. From the farmers who nurture the beans, to the roasters who balance precision with instinct, to the baristas who turn it into something special in the cup – every step matters. A good coffee isn’t an accident; it’s a combination of knowledge, patience, and respect for the process.
I’m a 70:30 guy myself (that balance just works for me), but I love exploring different blends and roasts. Single-origin beans from Ethiopia taste wildly different to those from Colombia or Brazil, and each region has its own notes and character. The more you try, the more you realise coffee isn’t one flavour, it’s an entire spectrum.
This is also where Fairtrade matters. Coffee is grown in some of the most beautiful yet challenging parts of the world, and it’s only right that the people who grow it are paid fairly and supported to sustain their communities. Every time you choose Fairtrade, you’re not just drinking better coffee, you’re contributing to a better future for the people behind it.
So, if you’ve never loved coffee, or if you’ve only ever drunk the same thing day in, day out, why not take today as a chance to experiment? Try a new blend. Pick up a bag from a different origin. Ask your local roaster what they recommend. Coffee is about discovery, and you might just find a flavour that makes you see it in a whole new light.
Happy National Coffee Day – here’s to flavour, skill, and the stories in every cup