As America approaches its 250th anniversary, there is a natural tendency to think about the big moments in our nation's history. The Declaration of Independence. The Founding Fathers. The battles that secured our freedom.
But history is also built around kitchen tables and the families that surround them.
It is built in conversations shared over meals, stories passed down through generations, and simple daily rituals that we as Americans create.
Coffee is a fixture in American life. In towns and cities across the country, coffee shops range from bustling national chains to family-owned cafés and local roasters crafting their own blends. Our own family has a coffee story begins in Rome, Italy.
Sant' Eustachio Caffe, Rome
Many years ago, my husband, James, and I were visiting the Eternal City when a sudden downpour sent us running into Sant'Eustachio Caffè, an old coffee shop in central Rome. We found a small table under the canopy outside to try to get dry and settled in to wait out the storm. I ordered a coffee, forgetting that in Italy "un caffè" means espresso.
When the tiny cup arrived, I took one sip and realized it was much too strong for my taste. Before I could ask for milk, James said he wanted to try it. This was surprising because before that day, he hadn't been a coffee drinker. In fact, he had never had a sip of coffee before.
I handed him the little cup and waited for his reaction. To my surprise, he liked it. Not only did he order a cup in the days that followed in Italy, he has had a cup (or a few) everyday since!
In fact, that first sip led to something much bigger. Today, Catholic Coffee roasts specialty-grade coffee in small batches at our roastery in Charlotte, North Carolina. Our coffees are inspired by beloved saints, devotions, and moments in Catholic history, with roasts honoring figures such as St. Michael, St. Joseph, Padre Pio, and Our Lady.
James and I have always loved finding ways to connect ordinary moments with the Catholic faith. Coffee may seem like a simple thing, but it has a remarkable way of bringing people together. It creates opportunities for conversation, hospitality, friendship, and even prayer. We wanted each bag of coffee to be more than just a great roast—we wanted it to be a small invitation to learn more about the faith and the holy men and women who have gone before us.
Looking back, it's amazing to think that it all started with one tiny cup of espresso in Italy.
A new roast to honor America's 250
This year, as our nation prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary, we wanted to pair that love of coffee and Catholicism with another love that is important to our family: gratitude for our country.
With three sons who have served in the military, we understand what it means to be a military family. We know the sacrifices made not only by service members, but also by their spouses, children, parents, and loved ones. That is one reason Catholic Coffee became the first corporate donor to the Archdiocese for the Military Services, helping support the priests and chaplains who bring the sacraments to Catholics serving throughout the world.
Our new America 250 Commemorative Coffee Collection brings all of these things together. The tins celebrate our nation's anniversary, honor the saints whose names grace our coffees, and reflect our gratitude for the freedoms we enjoy as Americans.
Throughout our nation's history, countless Catholics have served their communities, defended their country, built churches, raised families, and passed on the faith to the next generation.
James and I recently found ourselves back at Sant'Eustachio during another visit to Rome, with the youngest three of our nine children. We again enjoyed espresso not far from where his coffee story began, and it was impossible not to reflect on how much can grow from something as simple as a shared cup of coffee.
Whether you enjoy these commemorative tins yourself or give them as gifts, we hope they inspire good conversations, devotion to the saints, gratitude for our nation, and perhaps even a new coffee story of your own. The American Saints Medium Roast can and the God Bless America Medium Roast can make wonderful gifts or can be kept as coffee cans, plant or flower cans, or a place to hold paint brushes and other miscellaneous items. Order yours today at The Catholic Company!
