Pacific Northwesteners have a reputation for voracious coffee consumption. Every cup of coffee we buy and drink connects us with a web of hidden stories around the world. In this global age, a new exhibit at Seattle's Burke Museum explores the important question: What is the true story behind one of the world's most widely traded commodities?

Coffee: The World in Your Cup is a new touring exhibit, organized by the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture. The exhibit provides a broad overview of the powerful influence of coffee on environments, human cultures, and economies worldwide.

Coffee will be on display at the Burke Museum from January 24 to September 7, 2009. Planning a trip to the Burke? See hours and visitor information.

"Coffee connects us all," says Burke exhibit coordinator Ruth Pelz. "Most consumers don't think about the people and places that bring coffee from the field to the roast to the cup, but this exhibit offers visitors a chance to be more socially and environmentally aware of what they drink. Coffee really has the power to remind us of our place in the world."

Highlights of Coffee: The World in Your Cup include:

1. Color photographs of farms from South America to Africa to the Pacific Islands that tell the global story of coffee cultivation and trade
2. Live coffee plants
3. In-gallery "Café" setting for weekend coffee tastings and demonstrations
4. Four short videos featuring different aspects of the coffee industry, including the local coffee scene
5. Wall-to-wall display of coffee bags from dozens of Northwest coffee roasters