There is no doubt that coffee has become one of the most popular beverages worldwide. Coffee shops or coffee corners have become gathering places for friends, dates, and colleagues. The National Coffee Association once conducted a survey finding that 62% of Americans drink coffee every day, averaging 3 cups per day. To find the best cities for coffee lovers, WalletHub surveyed and rated the coffee culture of the 100 largest U.S. cities over more than two years, thereby releasing a report ranking the best coffee cities in America.

The origin of the term "specialty coffee" can be traced back to a 1974 issue of Tea & Coffee Trade Journal. In that issue, Erna Knutsen, a Norwegian woman working at a coffee brokerage firm in San Francisco at the time, described the coffee she dealt in as specialty coffee. This was largely because she was willing to work with smaller roasters and sell coffee in much smaller quantities—similar to today's direct trade model.

Although coffee sales in China currently account for only a small share, the Chinese coffee market is expected to see strong growth. Historically, China has evolved into a major tea-drinking nation. Over 2,700 years ago in China, the mythical emperor known as the "Emperor of the Five Grains," also called "Shennong," accidentally discovered the delicious taste of tea; whenever leaves from the tea tree fell, he would infuse them in hot water. Tea was once used for medicinal purposes, later regarded as an art form, and now Chinese people drink it every day.