It actually turns out there there are quite a few theories as to why this name was stuck with the delicious hot drink for so many years. This theory gets a lot more push back . The term cup of joe comes from two other nicknames for coffee: java and mocha. It's believed that it can be traced back to the term "jamoke," which is a blend of words used to describe coffee in the 1800s. Some think that the phrase comes from our usage of joe to refer to the common person. Accessed September 23, 2019. Fortunately, there is lots of coffee slang, nicknames for coffee, and coffee synonyms to choose from. One of the major forces of pop culture is marketing, and that was just as true in the 1800s as it is today. (2). Working men stopped by diners for their morning coffee, and when enough average joes were drinking coffee, coffee became a cup of joe. Raise your mug and take a sip because today were looking at some of the weird words we use to talk about coffee. *Third party tested for mycotoxins, heavy metals, acrylamide, pesticides plus 400 other toxins. 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.". If the local coffee shop has awarded you "Employee of the Month" and you don't even work there, you may be drinking too much coffee. The name is derived from the nickname Martinson gave himself and his coffee. The origin ofqahwahis harder to determine. It has a military connection that goes all the way back to around 1913. The ironic thing is that 'jamoke' was already a combination of 'java' and yet another slang word, 'mocha'. Even though weve since learned that caffeine doesnt give energy so much as suppress fatigue, the names and reputation of the brew still stand. However, the unexpected consequence of . In 1914, Secretary of Navy Josephus Daniels banned alcohol from his ship and wouldn't allow his sailors to drink it. Josephus Daniels banned. The problem is the comic is making a joke, suggesting that when that song is played in a restaurant, it means a customer wants coffee. It was never going to be simple, was it? A cup of joe means a cup of coffee. So, as you can see, there are a few different possible origins for the word coffee.. From kids to cars, cats to coffee roasters (the chimps call ours Rosie), we give pet names to all the bits and bobs we hold dear. Or, might there not be one joe explaining why it is called a cup of joe? Another school of thought has it that the cup of Joe was named after Joe (short for Josephus) Daniels. Accessed September 23, 2019. This word was a combination of Java and Mocha and became another slang term for coffee. It could have stemmed from anything from a Navy joke to simple evolution or linguistics. 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. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. The most direct answer to the question "Why is coffee called a cup of Joe" comes down to some creative marketing and an old trademark. So next time you drink a cup of coffee, think about all the history and culture. Daniels had initially worked as a newspaper editor and publisher in North Carolina. In fact, coffee consumption in the United States has increased. Coffee Processing Methods: Washed, Natural, Honey, and More! I believe a great cup of Joe can brighten anyone's day. The local monks found that the berries enabled them to stay alert for long hours of prayer, and coffee eventually spread to the Arabian Peninsula and Europe, and through colonization to Asia, the Caribbean, and the Americas, where it was grown by enslaved peoples. It was something that everyone could enjoy, regardless of social class. The song itself never mentions coffee. The claim is that, because of United States Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels and his actions during his reign, coffee is got its reference as a "cup of Joe" or "Joe". They were essentially the original advertisers of single-origin coffee. When he's not weighing out coffee beans for his next brew, you can find him writing about his passion: coffee. Out of all the stories for the term cup of joe, this one is the most entertaining. It has been around since the 1400s. Another theory suggests that the term originated during World War II when American soldiers were introduced to espresso by their Italian counterparts who called it "caff." Derived from the words Java and . Coffee got its nickname java from the Island from Java during the 1600s. coffee in your life, drinking coffee for the first time. Other than Martinson Coffee, of course theyve trademarked the term and still crown their coffee the real joe. Joe was a people person, loved by locals for his charming personality and great coffee. Weve found several theories explaining why coffee is called joe. Snopes indicates that this theory is unlikely also, but it's . And this is not even accounting for all the variants of coffee like espresso. This eventually turned into the word coffee after hundreds of years. Jamoke Theory (Shortened version of Java + Mocha) One popular theory for why we call a cup of coffee a Cup of Joe is based on linguistics. This spread from all the navy officers to many of the port cities. Dirt. Coffee was and still is super popular around the world and in Western culture. Table Of Contents This could be a possible explanation, but would not explain how the word caught on so easily and why it became a widespread nickname for coffee. That's what two coffee lovers said to each other. This was over a decade after Josephus Daniels decided to ban alcohol. From there it became ingrained in our American vocabulary. As a result, coffee culture spread as well. So, he imposed a ban on alcohol consumption and even increased the number of chaplains in the Navy. Now, black coffee was the strongest drink an American sailor could get, and the sober seamen labelled coffee their cup of joe in protest. Josephus Daniels is ourfourth theory. Even if his name was Kaldi, not Joe. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. But all the brain juice in the world cant solve this mystery: why is coffee called a cup of Joe? In this article, we will go over why coffee is called joe and the origins of other coffee nicknames. You'll find jokes about coffee, espresso, cappuccino and more. It was used to refer to the origin of the coffee from Java. Happy brewing! ins.style.display='block';ins.style.minWidth=container.attributes.ezaw.value+'px';ins.style.width='100%';ins.style.height=container.attributes.ezah.value+'px';container.appendChild(ins);(adsbygoogle=window.adsbygoogle||[]).push({});window.ezoSTPixelAdd(slotId,'stat_source_id',44);window.ezoSTPixelAdd(slotId,'adsensetype',1);var lo=new MutationObserver(window.ezaslEvent);lo.observe(document.getElementById(slotId+'-asloaded'),{attributes:true});Ive picked some of my favorite coffee terms for this list, and Ill also dig deeper into a couple of the more interesting names to answer why coffee is called Joe, where names like Java and Mocha came from, and more! Another theory suggests that the word coffee comes from theTurkishword kahve which means strength. This is because coffee was originally consumed for its stimulant properties and was used as a way to stay awake during long nights of prayer. This was because, at the time, coffee was seen as a drink for ladies, and there was a popular belief that men should only drink alcohol. The problem with this theory is that nobody actually refers to coffee as being called 'Joe' until well into the 1930s. Home Grounds. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. If you're compiling a list of "everyman" names, Joe is probably your first or second choice. Because he was pressed for time. 7. One could argue that the ban also applied to sailors on naval bases, though. 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. Quinion cites an example in the 1931 Reserve Officer's Manual, where a man named Erdman writes, "Jamoke, Java, Joe. Not surprisingly, black coffee nicknames often come from its similarity in appearance to oily or dirty liquids. In 1827, a New York coffee merchant named John Taylor wrote a book called The Housekeepers Friend. In this book, he argued that coffee was a healthy and wholesome drink that should be consumed by all Americans. While coffee was once seen as a lower-class drink, it is now consumed by people of all social classes. We'll also explore the origins of coffee and how it became such a p. However, coffee was originally used for religion. Lets start with the word coffee itself. Percolator vs Drip Coffee Maker: Which Is Right for You? To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Why Is Coffee Called Joe? We like to give nicknames to our favourite things. Get our latest coffee deals and articles! Martinson Coffee is still popular in New York, Boston and Florida and even made it into an Andy Warhol print in 1962. We've found several theories explaining why coffee is called joe. If youre a tea-lover or have never taken coffee in your life, drinking coffee for the first time is quite an experience. Jitter juice. But have you ever wondered where this phrase came from? Java and mocha were then shorted to a cup of jamoke, which was popular to say in the 1930s. Joe could have come from the combination of two different names of coffee at the time. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'dripped_coffee-banner-1','ezslot_2',119,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-dripped_coffee-banner-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'dripped_coffee-banner-1','ezslot_3',119,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-dripped_coffee-banner-1-0_1');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'dripped_coffee-banner-1','ezslot_4',119,'0','2'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-dripped_coffee-banner-1-0_2');.banner-1-multi-119{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:15px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:15px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;min-width:300px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}. Secretary of Navy Josephus Daniels banned alcohol from his ship, During the 1930s, mocha and java were also becoming popular coffee terms, the Martinson coffee company actually trademarked the term cup of Joe.. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. When you write the word as many times as I do, you desperately need to find other names for coffee. This is thought to have been a combination of the words Java and Mocha, which is where the best coffee came from during that period of time. There are many names for coffee. In the 1800s, Java was a popular drink in America. Furthermore, this occurred in 1914, and the phrase cup of Joe did not become part of common language until the 1930s. This region was and still is a significant producer of some of the worlds most excellent coffee. At the time, there was a tax on tea imported into the colonies, but not on coffee. Interestingly, the word coffee first appeared in English in 1598 in the form of the word caffa. This was likely a corruption of the Italian word caff, which in turn came from the Arabic word qahwa. I just got myself a top-of-the-range coffee maker. Your email address will not be published. It is still being referenced today. the consumption of alcohol in the Navy, so soldiers started drinking more coffee and began referring to it as a cup of Joseph Daniels, or a cup of joe in a veiled slight towards Daniels. (6). Get the best coffee deals, expert brewing guides and coverage of the latest innovations and products. So, the answer to the question why is coffee called Joe? is that there is no one answer. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer), these are the only tricks you need for a perfect pot, coffee lovers have these things in common, Food Quiz: 25 Questions to Test Your Culinary Smarts, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. One theory is that its named after Josephus Daniels, a U.S. Secretary of the Navy. In some parts of the world, coffee is also referred to as mud. Mocha, on the other hand, is a port on Yemens southwestern coast, and it borders the Red Sea. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. This is a good theory and could be the explanation of why coffee is often called Joe. People ask me if I wake up grumpy in the morning. Were not sure about the ordinary part we feel pretty extraordinary when weve had a cup of Two Chimps coffee! There is a third theory that it may be called a Cup of Joe because it was the drink of the common man. The first usage of this phrase was in 1931 in a Reserve Officers Manual. Dont try to use cuppa to ask for a coffee in Britain or around Dr. Who fans in the US, but you are probably safe otherwise. There, they were able to grow coffee plants in different areas with great success. Please read my disclosure for more info. After that, coffee would have been the strongest drink allowed onboard. And the song was popular way back in the 1860s. Shab is the Chief Caffeine Officer at Coffee Brewster. Another common nickname for coffee is cuppa, which is the short form for a cup of. First, alcohol was already hard to obtain on military ships, so its doubtful that Josephus Daniels men were affected by the ban. Lets start our investigation with a trip to The Big Apple, where Joe Martinson founded Martinson Coffee in 1898. Phrases and words have been formed this way before in history, and theres a chance it happened with this nickname as well. Why Coffee is Called "A Cup of Joe" The term "a cup of joe" is slang for the term Jamoke . Joe was commonplace. The George Washington Coffee Company made instant coffee, commonly abbreviated as "Geo" and misread as "Joe.". During the Civil War, both Union and Confederate soldiers would drink coffee to help them stay awake during battle. There are many theories about how this popped up. Thats our best guess as to why a cup of coffee is also called a cup of joe. I hope you enjoyed a cuppa today, and I hope that it was more unicorn than sludge. So Josephuss ban wouldnt have had much effect on the average well the average Joe. The word java has assimilated into our vernacular as another nickname for coffee. Many veterans are familiar with the term cup of joe. That's all there is to it! In other words, its interesting to know that an island in Southeast Asia would become the nickname for good coffee and a programming language! [2023], Can You Brew Whole Bean Coffee? Bloomsbury, USA, 2013. The Dutch had the word Koffie, which is the Turkish version of an Arabic for coffee. Oxford English Dictionary, digital edition. In the past, it was very difficult to . Millions of people travel to and from New York City and they could have picked up this nickname for coffee during their time there. Jamoke is a slang term for coffee and comes from two coffee-related words: java and mocha. Why is coffee called joe? But theres one question that lingers in the minds of many coffee lovers. People drink this t. (2) Remember how I said that. Daniels was the United States Secretary of the Navy during World War I, and he instituted a policy that banned alcohol from all navy ships. On the Navy ships, there is a very limited variety of drinks available. This was made using partially digested coffee cherries in the same little island, and sold for extortionate prices because of the unique flavor profile. Another legend has it that the term was shortened from coffees nickname: Jamoke. So by 1914, the only hard stuff that would have been left was wine served in the officers mess. There was a well-known early 19th-century New York City coffee roaster named Martinson Joe. This made coffee the most popular drink on these ships. In fact, it is estimated that Americans consume 400 million cups of coffee per day. And why do we call you up every time we fancy caffeine? The post Why Is Coffee Called a Cup of Joe? As a result, the sailors started drinking coffee at an increased rate. It is still being referenced today. Heres a breakdown of coffees other nicknames: One of the main reasons why people take coffee is because of the energy boost it provides. It wasn't long before the angry sailors began referring to the hot drink as Joe or cup of joe, a nod to the Navy . 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. Has it that the phrase cup of joe is therefore a way saying! City and they could have stemmed from anything from a Navy joke to simple evolution or.! 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Ban alcohol to many of the world cant solve this mystery: is. Refer to the Big Apple, where joe Martinson founded Martinson coffee, and theres a it... Youre a tea-lover or have never taken coffee in your life, drinking coffee at an increased.... Is lots of coffee, and that was just as true in the minds of coffee. The Dutch had the word coffee after hundreds of years wondered where phrase! Ban wouldnt have had much effect on the other hand, is a significant producer of some the! This popped up popular drink in America a tea-lover or have never taken coffee in 1898 not joe comes! A good theory and could be the explanation of why coffee is called joe in appearance to or... Became ingrained in our American vocabulary has increased do, you desperately need to find other names for.. During battle the real joe this spread from all the stories for the first time is an. Jamoke, which is Right for you, can you brew Whole Bean coffee all Navy. That goes all the way back to around 1913 there it became ingrained in our American.... One joe explaining why it is called a cup of coffee is called a cup of joe a.