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A cup of Joe
Published January/February 2002

Old coffee shop

While the cultivation of coffee was first documented in Yemen during the 15th century, the consumption of coffee in North America began sometime in the late 1600s. Coffee houses were then seen in large cities, such as New York, Boston, and Philadelphia. It was because of the heavy tax on tea in 1773, resulting in the Boston Tea Party, that Americans switched from tea to coffee as their favorite hot beverage. Coffee was thought as the "drink of freedom." This was the true beginning of the love affair between Americans and their coffee.

The story goes that in the 1940s, US Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Josephus "Joe" Daniels, outlawed the regular serving of alcoholic beverages on board ships. He replaced drinks containing liquor with warm cups of coffee. It was because of this, that the term a "Cup of Joe" was born.

Newcoffee shop

Today Americans are the world's largest consumers of coffee whether at home or on the road. The US is responsible for one third of all coffee exported. The new "coffee culture", which began in the 1970s, started in Seattle. Cafes, carrying a wide assortment of coffee-related beverages, were no doubt popular in such a rainy climate. Other states soon followed their lead, proving that adding coffee to the menu was a smart move financially. From small towns to large cities, you can now grab a cup of coffee (decaffeinated or regular) at any eatery, supermarket, bookstore, nightclub or even your neighborhood gas station. That "Cup of Joe" is quickly becoming as American as apple pie!

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