Every morning, New York journalist A. J. Jacobs heads to his local coffee shop. There, he gets a cup of coffee, and the workday can begin. It's a ritual, and for most, it's the most natural thing in the world. But how much of the world is contained in a cup of coffee? What people are behind this morning pleasure? Who makes this enjoyment possible through their labor?

With these questions in mind, the author embarks on a journey of gratitude. He meets logistics workers in warehouses, laborers in a steel mill, coffee farmers in Colombia, chemists from the municipal waterworks, a professional coffee taster, inventors, cleaners, and designers. He thanks all these people. Once and personally. After saying thank you a thousand times, the journey comes to an end. The gratitude expands further.