Good morning, and welcome to National Coffee Day, an annual event observed every Sept. 29 in a handful of countries to celebrate and enjoy the popular beverage -- as well as premote fair trade coffee and to raise awareness for the plight of the coffee growers around the globe.

Historically, it's believed that in the highlands of Ethiopia, where the legend of Kaldi, the goatherder, originated, coffee trees grow today as they have for centuries, according to the National Coffee Association, which was established in 1911.

It is said that Kaldi discovered coffee after noticing that his goats, in the hours after eating the berries from a certain tree, became so spirited that they did not want to sleep at night.

Thereafter, Kaldi reported his find to the abbot of the local monastery who made himself a drink with the newly-found berries and discovered it kept him alert for the long hours of evening prayer.

Word about the miraculous new berry beverage went from the abbot to the other monks at the monastery to the outside world, where coffee eventually reached the Arabian peninsula, where production of coffee beans reached new heights.

In the mid-1600s, coffee was brought to New Amsterdam, a location later called New York by the British.

After that, coffee houses began to appear rapidly, even though tea continued to be the drink of the choice in the New World until 1773 -- when the American colonists revolted against a heavy tea tax imposed by King George. That revolt, the Boston Tea Party, forever changed the American public's allegiance to coffee.

Here is a partial list of National Coffee Day 2014 Specials, as posted at nationaldaycalendar.com:

  • Krispy Kreme - Free 12 oz coffee or $1 small latte, mocha or iced coffee on 9/29.
  • Dunkin' Donuts - Free medium cup of Dunkin' Donuts hot Dark Roast Coffee, with a limit of one per guest.
  • McDonald's - Free small coffee during breakfast hours through 9/29.
  • Kangaroo Express - Get a 12 oz. Bean Street Coffee for just one penny on 9/29.
  • LaMar's Donuts - Free 12 oz coffee on 9/29.
  • Chick-fil-A: Many locations are offering free hot or iced coffee. This varies greatly by location so you will want to check your specific restaurant.
  • Peet's Coffee - Purchase any beverage and receive a second FREE beverage of choice on 9/29. Plus free coffee and espresso samples all day long.
  • LaMars - Free 12 oz cup of coffee all day.
  • Tim Horton's - $1 for all size coffees.
  • Brooklyn Water Bagel Co. - A free cup coffee hot or iced with a purchase of any menu item.