Want to know about the origins of the phrase “cup of joe”? Yahoo! Answers asked the question and someone pointed them in the direction of a U.S. Navy website on naval traditions. We use “cup of joe” because:
“Josephus Daniels (May 18, 1862-January 15, 1948) was appointed Secretary of the Navy by President Woodrow Wilson in 1913. Among his reforms of the Navy were inaugurating the practice of making 100 Sailors from the Fleet eligible for entrance into the Naval Academy, the introduction of women into the service, and the abolishment of the officers’ wine mess. From that time on, the strongest drink aboard Navy ships could only be coffee and over the years, a cup of coffee became known as ‘a cup of Joe.’”
http://www.navy.mil/navydata/traditions/html/navyterm.html#joe
Now we all know where it comes from.
Go to Coffeehouse Observer for more coffeehouse observations.
My name is Keith Michaud and this is “Letters From Away,” a blog written by a Mainer living outside the comfortable and sane confines of New England. The blog is intended for Mainers, whether they live in the Pine Tree State or beyond, and for anyone who has loved ’em, been baffled by ’em or both. Ayuh, I am “from away.” Worse still, I live on the Left Coast – in California. Enjoy! Or not. Your choice.
Letters From Away 