Coffee... just thinking about it is lighting up caffeine receptors in my brain. Coffee is a brewed beverage made from the roasted seeds (referred to as beans) of the coffee plant, most commonly coffea arabica.

Coffee plants are native to Ethiopia and the Sudan; the practice of drinking coffee may have originated in the Middle East in the 15th century. It quickly spread to Europe, where coffee houses became part of public life in the late 1600s.

In the 20th century, coffee science advanced to bring us instant and decaffeinated versions of our beloved joe. Sanka was one of the earliest brands of decaffeinated coffee; see if you can plot out its popularity through the What's On the Menu? project!

You can read all about coffee's history and cultural influence in Oxford Reference Online, available from anywhere with your library card. Check out the entries in sources like The Diner's Dictionary and The Oxford Companion to Food.

Coffee: A Historical Collection  - log in with your library card via BiblioBoard
Features 18th-century history volumes, texts on coffee cultivation, sketches of coffee houses, early cookbooks with coffee recipes, coffee farmers' guides, trade and business texts from the 1880s.

Coffee: A Guide to Buying, Brewing, and Enjoying by Kenneth Davids (E-book)
History and folklore alongside brewing styles and tips.

The Blue Bottle Craft of Coffee Growing, Roasting, and Drinking, With Recipes by James Freeman (E-book)
Blue Bottle is one of the leaders of our current coffee renaissance, and in this book shows you how to make artisanal quality coffee at home.

Coffee: A Dark History by Antony Wild
The bitter side of coffee, with slavery, imperialism, and fair trade disputes playing a role in the 500 year history of the commodity.

The New Complete Coffee Book: A Gourmet Guide to Buying, Brewing, and Cooking by Sara Perry
Cappuccino Borgia Milkshake and Coffee Mole with Grilled Zesty Shrimp—why not enjoy coffee with every meal?

All About Coffee: A History of Coffee From the Classic Tribute to the World's Most Beloved Beverage by William H. Ukers
An updated version of the 1922 classic (e-book available through HathiTrust) about Ukers's travels and thoughts on coffee.

Coffee: Grounds for Debate (Philosophy for Everyone)
Collected essays on the ethics, aesthetics, metaphysics, and culture of coffee.

More on coffee history and culture in our research collections.

Maybe you'll get inspired and want to open your own coffee shop—we have resources for that too.

There are so many variations in coffee preparation, from roasting to grinding to brewing. If you're bored with your beans, try learning about different methods and techniques to perk up your morning routine.

• National Coffee Association - How to Brew Coffee
• Stumptown Brew Guide and Coffee 101
• CoffeeGeek Guides
• Sweet Maria's Coffee Library

Too much effort? The Scoop from The New York Times has an interactive coffee shop map as well as an app. Isn't it time you went for a walk anyway?

Take a few bracing sips and then enjoy these robust images from The New York Public Library's Digital Collections.