1721: Berlins' first coffee diner opens.

1727: Lieutenant colonel Francisco de Melo Palheta woos France's Governor of Guiana's wife into stealing and smuggling germinated coffee seedlings in a flowers basket for him. He returns to Brazil from which he was dispatched to settle a feud between French and Dutch about country border lines, only to have successfully stolen coffee and also settling dispute.

1732: Johann Sebastian Bach's famous one-act operetta, "Coffee Cantata," was a not so liked operatic criticism of extraordinary lengths royal and upperclass took to keep commoners from drinking coffee.

1773: In America Boston Tea Party allowed experimentation with and also a popular form of protest when drinking coffee.

1775: As "Prussia's" Frederick Greats wealth is diminished trying to stop imports of coffee and public scorn's his foolishness he has a change of heart.

1886: Wholesale grocer Joel Cheek names a coffee blend "Maxwell House," after hotel in Nashville, TN where it was served.

Early 1900's: In Germany,"Kaffee klatsch" is coined to describe women's gossip. At these affairs afternoon coffee becomes a standard occasion.

1900: When Hills Brothers start packaging coffee in metal tins, they half heartedly kill coffee shop diners and mills.

1901: Satori Kato Japanese-American chemist of Chicago invents instant coffee.

1903: Sanka is introduced to United States in 1923. Ludwig Roselius admits a batch of destroyed coffee beans over to chemist's, who remove caffeine from coffee beans without losing flavor. Then sells it as brand name "Sanka."

1906: George Constant Washington, an English chemist living in Guatemala, notices a powdery condensation forming on spout of his silver coffee holder. After experimentation, he creates first mass-produced instant coffee (his brand is called Red E Coffee).

1920: United States institute prohibition, and coffee sales explode.

1938: Having been asked by Brazil to help find a solution to their coffee surpluses, Nestle company invents freeze-dried coffee. Nestle develops Nescafe and introduces it in Switzerland.

1940: The US imports 70 percent of worlds coffee.

1942: During W.W.II, American soldiers are issued instant Maxwell House coffee in their ration kits. Back home, widespread hoarding leads to coffee rationing.

1946: Achilles Gaggia finishes his espresso machine In Italy. Cappuccino is named for resemblance of its color to robes of monks of Capuchin monastery.

1969: One week before Woodstock premier Manson Family murders coffee mogul Abigail Folger as she visits film maker Roman Polanski with Sharon Tate.

1971: The first Starbucks opens in Seattle's Pike Place public market.

© Copyright Randy Wilson, All Rights Reserved.

Drop by rounded teaspoons 2 inches apart on a greased cookie sheet. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until slightly set. Cool for 5 minutes on cookie sheet then transfer to wire rack. Frost cookies while still warm.

Frosting

1 oz semisweet chocolate, melted with cream 3 Tbls heavy cream 1 Cup powdered Sugar 1 tsp vanilla ( I use Madagascar Bourbon, Pure Vanilla Bean Paste. This is a very aromatic vanilla that lends itself well to baking and home made ice creams. I have found that it's pure flavor and flecks of vanilla bean give my baking a gourmet flair.)

Mix vanilla in with cream and chocolate mixture. While this is still warm beat in powdered sugar. When smooth and still warm spread over cookies.