Blessed be the coffee makers

Pope John Paul II beatifies 'father of cappuccino'

Marco d'Aviano, a wandering preacher for the Capuchin monastic order, is credited with rallying Catholics and Protestants on the eve of the Battle of Vienna in 1683, which was crucial to halting the advance of Turkish soldiers into Europe.

He is also remembered by some as the man who, by legend, inspired the fashionable cappuccino coffee now drunk by millions across the globe.

The monk, who was born in the city of his name in northern Italy in 1631, was sent by the pope of the day to unite Christians in the face of a huge Ottoman army.

Legend has it that, following the victory, the Viennese reportedly found sacks of coffee abandoned by the enemy and, finding it too strong for their taste, diluted it with cream and honey.

The drink being of a brown colour like that of the Capuchins' robes, the Viennese named it cappuccino in honour of Marco D'Aviano's order.

Remember that next time you're in line at Starbucks.

Flip side

Cheap coffee 'threatens wildlife'

Demand for coffee in the West is threatening to destroy already endangered wildlife, according to new research.

Conservation experts say overproduction of cheap robusta coffee beans - commonly used in instant coffee - may be contributing to the loss of tigers, elephants, orangutans and rhinos in Sumatra.

A study by the New York-based Wildlife Conservation Society says that large areas of Indonesian lowland forest are being cut down to make way for coffee plantations.

Again, remember that next time you're in line at Starbucks.

Third side of the coin

See what Patrick Farley's pen has to say about wildlife, spirituality and Yuppie-icon office fuel.

Health update

Wife and I markedly better. Tomorrow, we are going out to eat. Mexican. One last meal together until she has to go out of town on business.