Cup of Joe

Erin Passaro
Delta Gamma

With the start of a new semester upon students at Virginia Tech, we are all gearing up for long days in classes and endless nights at our respective study locations.  Whether you find yourself in the Math Empo, Newman Library, Torg Bridge or the mere comfort of your own apartment, by the time 9 p.m. rolls around most of us are reaching for that extra boost of energy, whether it be in the form of coffee, soda or an energy drink. 

My personal preference is a trusty "cup of joe," which is especially comforting in these frigid Blacksburg winters. I have spent many-a-night wondering where this seemingly ancient reference comes from.  My curiosity, and maybe yours too, is very counteractive to my studying efforts. But not to fear fellow Hokies, I am taking the initiative to get to the bottom of this nagging dilemma. 

Popular theory holds that Secretary of the Navy Josephus “Joe” Daniels enacted a law during World War I aboard U.S. Navy ships prohibiting the consumption of alcohol.  This off-land prohibition forced sailors to turn to whiskey’s strongest contender – coffee – and put an end to the notion that sailors were often heavily intoxicated.  However, no amount of coffee could silence the notorious phrase that one is “drunk as a sailor.” 

Another military related origin of the expression “cup of joe” comes from the popularity the caffeinated beverage gained among G.I.s during World War II.  Although a hotly debated abbreviation, G.I. stands for anything from General Infantryman to Government Issue, which was used to describe the items supplied to troops in the Army during the second World War.  Regardless, the expression takes on a tone similar to “average Joe,” conveying the idea that a “cup of joe” is the beverage of choice for the common man.            

Or maybe the term “joe” is simply a classic abbreviation for other popular terms like “java” or “jamoke.”  People’s tendency to shorten their native language is evident in the popular slang terms used today on Social Networks like Facebook and Twitter and through emails and text messages.  For example, gone are the times when one acknowledges a humorous comment by just laughing; LOL is a more appropriate response in today’s day and age.  

Maybe this was the case back in the late 1700s, when angry colonists started drinking coffee in response to the tea tax imposed by the King of England.  With coffee consumption on the rise, colonists had to look overseas for their caffeine fix, importing massive amounts of coffee from the island of Java in Indonesia (hence the terms “java” and “jamoke,” the latter expressing a combination of java and mocha).  These nicknames were presumably tossed around until people became too lazy to pronounce the exhausting extra syllables, generating the widely accepted term “joe.”

Today, coffee has become almost a religious experience. For many that includes expensive, specialized brewing machines, fancy mugs to drink from and a coffee shop on every corner.  Not only is it a social event, but it serves as a wonderful vehicle for first dates and business meetings.  Although, year after year it seems America’s beloved caffeinated beverage gets farther and farther from its simple form and closer to what some would call a dessert. 

So next time you find yourself brooding over what to order at the barista bar, try ordering the house blend instead of a heavily flavored latte, cappuccino, frappuccino, macchiato or mocha.  Who knows, it may become your cup of joe.

Erin is a sophomore studying environmental policy and planning. You may contact her at perin92@vt.edu.