Coffee

Coffee is thought to have been first discovered in the 13th century in Ethiopia. As knowledge of the bean spread, the Arabs began cultivating and trading coffee, leading to its global availability and popularity. The 'coffee houses' in both the Near East and Europe became places where all kinds of people would gather to discuss current events, listen to musical performances, and essentially hang out. By the 17th century there were over 300 coffee houses in London alone.

Things haven't seemed to change much since then. Coffee is still the most popular drink in the world and, according to a doctor at Mayo Clinic, this is a good thing. Coffee has often been blamed for things like heart disease, or even cancer, but apparently there is no scientific evidence for these claims, quite the opposite, in fact. Recent studies have shown that drinking coffee has numerous health benefits, from reducing the risk of depression to protecting your liver from cancer. Of course adding large amounts of cream and sugar can dilute the health benefits somewhat.

Coffee is a deeply rooted part of most cultures, from the Arab hospitality rituals to the Ethiopian ritual of roasting, grinding, and brewing the beans for guests as they watch. Even in America, the cultural impact of coffee can be seen in the long lines at every Starbucks.