These coffee terms are based on the way coffee is made or what its made from. Out of anger and to poke fun at the secretary, sailors began calling coffee "cups of Joe.". The Complete Guide to Coffee Brewing Methods. For starters, Congress abolished the spirit ration in 1862, meaning it would be very difficult for sailors to get their hands on U.S. navy ships anyway. 2. Coffee Processing Methods: Washed, Natural, Honey, and More! Not surprisingly, black coffee nicknames often come from its similarity in appearance to oily or dirty liquids. Although the percentage of the global population that takes coffee is pretty high, there are a few tea diehards. A cup of go might actually be a long-forgotten form of advertising for a coffee company. Common mans drink or not, everyone knows that you want a cup of good coffee when you order a cup of Joe! Cup of George: Yet another theory is that the term was derived from the individual servings of instant coffee included in the rations given to service members. Freshly roasted & Free 1st class delivery. Lets start with the word coffee itself. Java is the name of an island in Indonesia and also a type of arabica coffee grown there (theyre nice, full-bodied beans). Happy brewing! I've been drinking coffee my entire life, from a little boy stealing coffee off the counter to an adult (who still steals his wife's coffee occasionally). As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Cup of joe is a trademarked term owned by Martinson Coffee, indicating that the slang term dates back to the company's inception. Aaand, of course, our cup of joe! There was an advertisement for Joes Coffee House in this newspaper.. Another theory from Snopes about the origin of "joe" involves the slang term "joe." Joe is a slang word for the common man, or an "average joe." This slang term has been used to describe the average man in English since 1846. 24. Since that time, the name has expanded from a neighborhood nickname to a . You mocha me crazy. No one is sure that this is truly where the cup of joe nickname comes from. Java, pick-me-up, and of course, a cup of Joe. For more information, see our privacy policy. The term cup of Joe only appears in writing for the first time in 1930long after the Navys ban on alcohol. Derived from the words Java and . In slang, the word is used to refer to a fellow, guy, or chap. As such, people likely called coffee a cup of Joe to refer to a beverage taken by any average individual and using it to describe a common mans drink. Continue with Recommended Cookies. That is a lot of coffee! As the meaning of Mocha has changed, so has jamocha, which is far more likely to be a chocolate and coffee concoction nowadays instead of just a regular coffee. Have you ever sipped coffee in a contemplative mood and wondered why coffee got the name joe? Grab your cup of Joe. These include Java, Jamocha, cuppa, cupped lightning, rocket fuel, high octane, jitter juice, and mud. The word coffee may come from the Ethiopian wordbunn, which means bean. This is because coffee was originally consumed as a whole berry, including the coffee beans, and not just brewed as a beverage. Over time, weve come to know coffee by a bunch of different terms. By being at a cultural hub in the center of New York City it is possible that this lingo has spread from one coffee roaster in 1898. Like happiness, coffee comes to us from many places, and in many forms. Lets start our investigation with a trip to The Big Apple, where Joe Martinson founded Martinson Coffee in 1898. Remember how I said that coffee was exported from North Africa and the Middle East starting in the 1600s? It comes from the Turkish word kahveh, and it seems to have come into European languages around 1600. Coffee was often referred to as the common man's drink or the average person's . It was discovered in a humorous way Legend has it that a goat herder discovered the coffee plant in the 9 th century. A cup of Joe is therefore a way of saying the common mans drink. Maybe thats why all coffee lovers have these things in common. History is full of crazy etymologies (the study of the origin of words and how their meanings have changed throughout history). Coffee has a long and complicated history, and it has been known by many different names. In other words, joe has a military origin. Why is coffee called a cup of Joe? The first known printed reference to a cup of coffee as a cup of joe appears in a book from 1936. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. So where did this nickname come from? The nickname could have evolved from different terms for coffee. A daily ration of grog was once normal on Navy ships, but an 1862 edict put that practice to rest. This theory gets a lot more push back . We drink energy to get us up and running. It is not only an American drink but a global one. As a result, the sailors started drinking coffee at an increased rate. Sometimes the best names are right under your nose. The most likely tale is the second one, that "Java" and "Mocha" made "jamoke," which was then shortened to "Joe." All that's left, it would seem, is to buy the best Coffee beans from The Kent and Sussex Tea and Coffee Company. However, where did this slang come from? 4. [2023], Can You Brew Whole Bean Coffee? Well, not exactly. Joe describes the average, ordinary guy on the street. If that Joe wasnt behind the phrase, which one might be? During this time, it has been called by many different names as it has spread around the world. This post may contain affiliate links. To clarify, the joke here is that "Joe mama" sounds like "yo mama," which is . 21 Different Types of Espresso Drinks (with Pictures), How To Make Coffee While Camping (10 Easy Methods). No matter how you like your coffee, there is a type for everyone. Coffee is sometimes called high octane. By combining these two words together you get the word Joe. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'dripped_coffee-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_13',120,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-dripped_coffee-large-leaderboard-2-0'); For such a versatile drink, it comes as no surprise that it has dozens of other nicknames. The Word Game The next theory that claims its seat on the throne as the initiator of the term will be a favorite of all the wordsmiths out there. Josephus Daniels is ourfourth theory. Many English words were derived from Arabic, including sugar and syrup. However, it is unclear why the word caffa was used to describe coffee when so many other English words could have been used instead. Even President Abraham Lincoln drank coffee. As secretary of the Navy, hed banned alcohol consumption, leaving American sailors with coffee as the only substitute. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Coffee. So how did coffee get its name? The Dutch had the word Koffie, which is the Turkish version of an Arabic for coffee. Sure, these might not all apply to every cup of coffee, but we use them universally anyway. Martinson Coffee is still popular in New York, Boston and Florida and even made it into an Andy Warhol print in 1962. Even though weve since learned that caffeine doesnt give energy so much as suppress fatigue, the names and reputation of the brew still stand. 3. There is an ever-growing list of different types of coffee, each with a unique name and origin story. Java and mocha refer to the Indonesian island of Java, where coffee is widely grown, and Mocha, the ancient Yemeni port which was the first to export coffee. Following the alcohol ban, coffee was the next most potent substitute that the American sailors had on board of U.S. Navy Ships during and after World War I. Well explore all of these theories, and you can decide which one you believe. In return, the sailors sarcastically named the drink after him. brew your bean juice, or pour your sludge its time to have some fun with coffee slang. Latte, cold brew, or drip: they all started on the ancient Ethiopian plateau, when a goat-herder noticed his goats eating a berry that made them so energetic, they couldnt sleep at night (if youve ever had coffee after 3 p.m., you can relate). General Order 99 stated that: The use or introduction for drinking purposes of alcoholic liquors on board any naval vessel, or within any navy yard or station, is strictly prohibited, and commanding officers will be held directly responsible for the enforcement of this order. He installs Java! The next theory on the origins of the phrase cup of joe is that coffee is the common mans drink: the avereage joe. Your email address will not be published. This theory revolves around Josephus Daniel, a U.S. Navy secretary from 1913 to 1921. Manage Settings Coffee was and still is super popular around the world and in Western culture. The word "joe" may have developed as a natural progression of language. It was never going to be simple, was it? Because he was pressed for time. There are four common theories. Have you ever wondered why coffee is called Joe? This policy was nicknamed the coffee rule, and it is possible that this is how coffee got its nickname. Our beloved brew is our cuppa and java, our daily grind, rocket fuel, and jitter juice. The name Coffeehas been used since about 1582 when the word entered the English language from the Dutch wordkoffie. Driftaway Coffee. Learn more. Coffee is still a very popular drink in the United States. If youre an English language buff, this joe origin theory will pique your interest. The iconic nickname, a cup of Joe, has several origin stories. There are many theories behind the origin of the nickname that span different times in history. As alcohol consumption plummeted, coffee consumption rose. After that, coffee would have been the strongest drink allowed onboard. Coffee Puns You'll Love a Latte. which was pronounced Joe. Locals may have referred to Joe's coffee as a "cup of joe" when it was first introduced in New York in 1898 by Joe Martinson, who was said to have a "bigger-than-life personality.". The Verdict - Why Is Coffee Called A Cup Of Joe? Black Ichor Ichor is the fluid that flows in the veins of the gods. Or, might there not be one joe explaining why it is called a cup of joe? Oxford English Dictionary, digital edition. Joe used to refer to it as "Joe's coffee" or simply "a cup of Joe.". Whether you love or hate that acidic goodness, youve got to love the coffee lingo it inspires. How Many Calories in Coffee with Semi Skimmed Milk? Joe's grandfather was the one who started the plantation and it has been passed down through the family ever since. Is Coffee Called Joe Or Jo? One theory on cup of joe's origin goes like this: In 1914, a ban on alcohol on U.S. Navy ships imposed by the Secretary of the Navy Josephus "Joe" Daniels meant that the strongest drink available aboard the ship was black coffee. We'll also explore the origins of coffee and how it became such a p. Originally, they would call is a cup of Joseph Daniels, and it was later shortened to a cup of Joe. 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