Coffee is a starter-pack routine for millions of people every morning. That makes coffee the most popular caffeine product. However, people know very little about various coffee names and their origins. For example, coffee was first cultivated in Yemen.
The word “coffee” is derived from the Italian word “Caffe,” which originated from the Turkish word “Kahveh” from an Arabic origin, “Qahwah.” In addition, coffee has other colloquial names that people use to refer to it. Some of these names and “Java,” “brew,” and “cupped lighting.” However, one name referring to the drink remains outstanding: “Joe.”
Some theories propose the origin of these coffee nicknames. However, very little is known about the origin of these names.
Theory 1: Average Joe
A perfectly average American male is referred to as “average Joe.” Therefore, that is presumed to be the origin of the nickname “Joe.” However, research suggests that a beverage becomes popular when it is easier to pronounce to appeal to citizens since it is an exotic beverage to many consumers. That can explain why “Joe” is a suitable nickname.
Theory 2: Combining Many Names
The writer, Michael Quinion from Cambridge University, proposes that the term is a concatenation of already popular words referring to coffee, e.g., “jamoke” or “java.” He suggests that “Joe” was derived from Java and Mocha, where the best coffee was served in 1931. This is an indisputable historical reference.
Theory 3: Joe is the Simplified Form of Jamoke
One of the theories why coffee is called “joe” is that it is the simplified form of “jamoke.” Jamoke was a slang term used in the early 20th century for coffee and was likely derived from mocha, a coffee bean. This theory suggests that the slang term “jamoke” was eventually shortened to “joe” due to its simplicity and ease of use.
This theory is supported by the fact that many other popular drinks, such as cappuccino and espresso, have also been shortened from their original names over time. As such, this theory likely explains why coffee is known as “joe.”
Theory 4: Joe is Short for Jamocha
One of the theories behind why coffee is called “Joe” is that it could be a shortened version of “Jamocha.” This theory goes that “Jamocha” was originally a combination of two famous coffee-growing regions, Java and Mocha and that it was eventually shortened to “Joe.”
This theory is supported by the fact that “Jamocha” was a common nickname for coffee in the 1930s. Furthermore, linguists sometimes argue that Joe could be a shortened version of Jamoke, another popular slang term for coffee.
Theory 5: Secretary Josephus “Joe” Daniels
On June 1, 1914, the secretary of the US Navy, Josephus “Joe” Daniels banned the serving of all alcoholic beverages abroad on US Navy ships; hence coffee gained popularity as “a cup of Joe.” Considering that coffee was their only powerful drink, coffee consumption skyrocketed under the name “a cup of Joe.”
Theory 1: Founder Joe Martinson
Joe Martinson founded the Martinson Coffee Company. Many devoted customers in New York City attributed coffee to the name of the coffee company founder, “cup of Joe.” However, there barely exists any evidence to support that.
Final thoughts
The coffee nickname “Joe” has very many possible origins. You are the one to choose the one you believe supports the evidence. You can enjoy a cup of coffee any time around the clock. You can even brew the most popular beverage in human history in the style of your choice. At least you know some background information about the nickname “Joe” for your cup of coffee.
Editorial Staff
The editorial staff at Crazy Coffee Crave is a team of coffee enthusiasts & Baristas who enjoy the one thing we all think about as soon as we get up in the morning. Trusted by thousands of readers worldwide.
