Why do hotels offer it?

Not only are these items more cost-effective for hotels -- you don't need much staff to tend to a few trays of bagels, pastries, and carafes of orange juice in the lobby -- but it's also easier to manage than, say, cranking out omelets and flapjacks to order. (Of course, some hotels do serve a much larger, more involved, free breakfast.) And guests like the convenience of the food and the perceived value of getting something "for free."

Why is it free?

In the traditional American payment model, hotel guests enjoyed all their meals in the hotel's restaurant. The price of the meals was included in one bill (room and board) at the end of their stay.

However, as guests preferred making cheaper and more flexible dining arrangements, hotels started adapting a European-style plan where meals were no longer folded into the cost of their stay. Guests only paid for their room.

Eventually, a hybrid plan emerged. It was called the "continental" model to set it apart from the other pricing structures. (It also sounds super fancy.) At a continental-style hotel, breakfast was now touted as being included with the price of the room, but guests were free to make their own arrangements for lunch and dinner. This model is now the standard in most hotels worldwide.

So next time you're at a hotel and you nibble on a complimentary blueberry muffin while sipping your free coffee and reading your free newspaper, you'll know how it all came about.

(Anna Goldfarb is a contributor to TheKitchn.com, a nationally known blog for people who love food and home cooking. Submit any comments or questions to editorial@thekitchn.com.)