The world is full of weird nicknames for foods (think Rocky Mountain Oysters). And we’re going to guess that you probably don’t know why coffee is called “Joe”! We’ll tell you the full story, along with a couple of other reasons that might be a coincidence. Or are they?
The Story of Josephus Daniels
Josephus Daniels (born May 18, 1862) rose to prominence as a newspaper editor in Raleigh, North Carolina. He was a prominent member of Woodrow Wilson’s presidential campaign in 1912. Upon his election, Wilson appointed Daniels to the Secretary of the Navy where he served until 1921!
Early in his career (1914 to be exact), Daniels infamously banned alcohol from his ship. Unsurprisingly, Josephus was not the most popular man after doing this and the sailors began drinking coffee much more frequently to compensate. During their time at sea, the sailors began to refer to their coffee as “cup of Joe” (Joe short for Josephus) and, when docked, spread the phrase to others.
However, calling coffee a “cup of joe” was not published until the early 1930s, a full 15 years after Daniels banned alcohol on his boat. Is it possible that the phrase has a different origin?
The Martinson Coffee Company
Joseph Martinson founded the Martinson Coffee Company in New York in 1898. The roast was famous and consumed regularly in New York by hundreds of thousands of locals. It is rumored that New Yorkers began to affectionately refer to Martinson’s coffee as a “cup of joe”, after the man the company was named after!
Years later, the Martinson Coffee Company would trademark the term “cup of Joe”, even though Joseph may not have been the actual source of the phrase. Is it possible that this is also not the source of the term?
A Common Drink for the Common Man
Average Joe — a well-known term in American culture. It refers to the common working man, one that needs a piping hot cup of bold coffee to get him moving in the morning while he’s reading the morning paper.
The origination of “average joe” also stems from the war effort in the late 1930s to early 1940s. This phrase originates for the term G.I. Joe, an endearing term for the common solder during the second World War. Coffee was a staple in both World War I and World War II, and with the prevalence of the American soldier came the reference to the drink consumed around the world — coffee.
While the origin of the phrase “cup of joe” may have been lost to history, it is clear that it originated in conjunction with the war efforts of the early 20th century. It is associated with the average man and the common soldier, even though the exact origin is not known!
Before You Go!
We hope that you enjoyed this article and that you learned something new today! Take a look at our library of articles, including the basics of brewing among many, many others. We appreciate the support, stay Bougie!
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