America’s Coffee Break Festival: Celebrating a Beloved Workplace Tradition

For many office workers, the short coffee break holds great importance. Each year, Stoughton, Wisconsin, honors this ritual with its Coffee Break Festival, featuring coffee tastings, brewing contests, and even bean-spitting competitions.

The festival finds its roots in local history: Stoughton is said to be the birthplace of the "coffee break" tradition, dating back to the late 19th century. Female factory workers here would brew coffee and chat during work intervals, a habit that gradually spread nationwide.

This unique celebration turns a daily routine into a community event, blending nostalgia with fun. It pays homage to a simple pleasure that eases workdays, making Stoughton a fitting home for a festival that celebrates the joy of pausing for a cup of coffee.