Coffee has become a major part of American life. People all across the country start their mornings off with a cup of this beverage and most drink it throughout the day. Tuesday is National Coffee Day and millions everywhere will be celebrating this special day, Sept. 29

Sophomore Celeste Counts enjoys drinking Starbucks coffee.

“I am not doing anything special for National Coffee Day, “Counts said.” I might go and get either a iced or blended drink from Starbucks to celebrate.”

Drinking of coffee in America started during the revolutionary war because people thought drinking tea was unpatriotic. The drink really took off in Seattle with the opening of the first Starbucks on First and Pike streets in 1971. This is also the same time period when Seattle’s Best got its start in 1970.

While campus students and staff drink coffee regularly, junior Slater Wade is one of the few that does not like to drink coffee regularly.

“I do not drink coffee everyday,” Wade said. “My mom told me all the time while I was growing up that coffee was bad for me but I still like to drink it every once in a while.”

I didn’t know that today was National Coffee Day. I make my own coffee at home everyday. I have been drinking coffee since college because it is what we had to do to be cool; our favorite coffee place was Mr. Toots in Capitola on the wharf. — Teacher Robert Foshee

Businesses around the state and country offer special deals and some are even giving out free coffee. McDonalds and Duncan Donuts are serving free coffee today. The big surprise is that Starbucks has not scheduled any specials so far. Last year they had deals online but none seem to be offered this year. However, local business, Rare Earth Coffee, has a deal: customers can buy a 16 ounce cup of coffee for $.99 cents.

Teacher Robert Foshee is a regular coffee drinker since his college days at Bethany University in Santa Cruz.

“I didn’t know that today was National Coffee Day,” said Foshee.” I make my own coffee at home everyday. I have been drinking coffee since college because it is what we had to do to be cool; our favorite coffee place was Mr. Toots in Capitola on the wharf.”

While living in Bolivia for two years, Sharon Scharf has been drinking coffee for as long as she can remember.

“In the morning my Bolivian mother would make an essence of coffee, “Scharf said.” You would pour a little in your cup and then pour boiling water in your cup. We also needed sugar or else it would be undrinkable; it was so thick. This coffee lasted all day and would be good in the morning but bad at night. It was the strongest coffee I have ever had … until I had Brazilian coffee. Now all I drink is straight black coffee.”

Whether coffee drinkers drink their coffee at home or at coffee house, today is the day to celebrate java.