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Americans throwing tea in Boston Harbor was the start of our national movement toward the dark and bitter nectar of the gods. Tea time is gone, so we take coffee breaks now. Coffee houses were the center of political discussion during the American Revolution. Few things are as inextricably linked with the United States and its military as coffee.
In the Civil War, coffee was the only fresh food troops on the battlefield could get. It might even have been the difference maker in the outcome of the war. In the South during the Civil War, a pound of coffee could run you upwards of $1000 in today’s dollars. Confederate troops used things like roasted corn, rye, okra seeds, sweet potatoes, acorns, and peanuts as substitutes. One substitute, Chicory, is still popular in New Orleans.
When future-President William McKinley was 19 he served in the Civil War, hauling vats of hot coffee so front line soldiers could get a cup and soldier on. This story was retold several times during his presidential campaign and proved how everyone in the war felt about coffee. There is even a William McKinley Coffee Break monument in Maryland.
During the Civil War, troops had to roast and grind their own beans. To make coffee easier to make, the Army introduced the first instant coffee. Called “Essence of Coffee,” it was basically a coffee reduction with sugar and milk added at the factory. All the troops had to do was pop a can open and add hot water. Unfortunately, crooked entrepreneurs often sold the government spoiled milk, so the Essence not only tasted terrible, it caused a lot of bowel problems to boot. The government quickly switched back to the real stuff.
Coffee earned its nickname “cup o’ Joe” from President Woodrow Wilson’s U.S. Navy Secretary Josephus Daniels, who banned alcohol on ships in the U.S. Navy from the outset of World War I. Coffee filled the void left by the outgoing rum and wine. Sailors were not pleased with the change and referred to the replacement as a “cup of Joseph,” which soon became a cup o’ Joe.
Coffee helped win World War II. U.S. troops even created one of the world’s most popular coffee beverages, the Caffé Americano, by watering down their Italian espresso shots which was too strong for their tastes.
The Korean War saw coffee being brewed just as much as any other conflict.
n Vietnam, G.I.s made coffee in the field using C-4 explosives as a heat source, as they did with all their c-ration cooking.
These days, coffee is one of the most popular things civilians send U.S. troops deployed to war zones.
If you’re the first one at your unit in the morning and you didn’t brew coffee, everyone hates you. No one wants to walk all the way to Green Beans.
U.S. troops love coffee so much, many got out and started their own coffee companies. Check out Lock ‘n Load Java, Veteran Coffee Roasters, Black Rifle Coffee Company, and Ranger Coffee.
@ SMSgt Minister Gerald A. Thomas Capt Christopher MuellerCOL Mikel J. BurroughsSgt Joe LaBrancheSSgt (Join to see)Capt Seid WaddellSrA Christopher Wright LTC Stephen F.PO2 Ed C. SFC(P) Hercules Lobo MSG Tom EarleyPVT James Strait Alan K. PO1 William "Chip" NagelSGT John " Mac " McConnellSSG Leo Bell SFC William Farrell LTC (Join to see) SPC Britanny *Winnie* Balthaser Maj Kim Patterson
In the Civil War, coffee was the only fresh food troops on the battlefield could get. It might even have been the difference maker in the outcome of the war. In the South during the Civil War, a pound of coffee could run you upwards of $1000 in today’s dollars. Confederate troops used things like roasted corn, rye, okra seeds, sweet potatoes, acorns, and peanuts as substitutes. One substitute, Chicory, is still popular in New Orleans.
When future-President William McKinley was 19 he served in the Civil War, hauling vats of hot coffee so front line soldiers could get a cup and soldier on. This story was retold several times during his presidential campaign and proved how everyone in the war felt about coffee. There is even a William McKinley Coffee Break monument in Maryland.
During the Civil War, troops had to roast and grind their own beans. To make coffee easier to make, the Army introduced the first instant coffee. Called “Essence of Coffee,” it was basically a coffee reduction with sugar and milk added at the factory. All the troops had to do was pop a can open and add hot water. Unfortunately, crooked entrepreneurs often sold the government spoiled milk, so the Essence not only tasted terrible, it caused a lot of bowel problems to boot. The government quickly switched back to the real stuff.
Coffee earned its nickname “cup o’ Joe” from President Woodrow Wilson’s U.S. Navy Secretary Josephus Daniels, who banned alcohol on ships in the U.S. Navy from the outset of World War I. Coffee filled the void left by the outgoing rum and wine. Sailors were not pleased with the change and referred to the replacement as a “cup of Joseph,” which soon became a cup o’ Joe.
Coffee helped win World War II. U.S. troops even created one of the world’s most popular coffee beverages, the Caffé Americano, by watering down their Italian espresso shots which was too strong for their tastes.
The Korean War saw coffee being brewed just as much as any other conflict.
n Vietnam, G.I.s made coffee in the field using C-4 explosives as a heat source, as they did with all their c-ration cooking.
These days, coffee is one of the most popular things civilians send U.S. troops deployed to war zones.
If you’re the first one at your unit in the morning and you didn’t brew coffee, everyone hates you. No one wants to walk all the way to Green Beans.
U.S. troops love coffee so much, many got out and started their own coffee companies. Check out Lock ‘n Load Java, Veteran Coffee Roasters, Black Rifle Coffee Company, and Ranger Coffee.
@ SMSgt Minister Gerald A. Thomas Capt Christopher MuellerCOL Mikel J. BurroughsSgt Joe LaBrancheSSgt (Join to see)Capt Seid WaddellSrA Christopher Wright LTC Stephen F.PO2 Ed C. SFC(P) Hercules Lobo MSG Tom EarleyPVT James Strait Alan K. PO1 William "Chip" NagelSGT John " Mac " McConnellSSG Leo Bell SFC William Farrell LTC (Join to see) SPC Britanny *Winnie* Balthaser Maj Kim Patterson
A brief history of coffee in the US military
Posted from wearethemighty.comPosted in these groups: 
Military History
Military History
Posted 7 y ago
Responses: 14
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Thats a nice story SP5 Mark Kuzinski. When I went in the Army in 1969, I was drinking tea as that is how my mother and grandmother raised me. Well In basic there was no tea, only coffee so I had to change my drinking habits. When I got to Nam, I had to drink it black as we had no milk. Been drinking coffee ever since. My wife has a Tea Room so now I go both ways!
Seems like we all learned to drink coffee in the Army LTC Stephen F. LTC Stephen C.
Seems like we all learned to drink coffee in the Army LTC Stephen F. LTC Stephen C.
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Thanks for sharing SP5 Mark Kuzinski the history of military coffee. During the civil war, sometimes pickets would exchange coffee for tobacco during lulls in the fighting. Yes confederates made do with Chicory at times but many preferred coffee and chewing and pipe tobacco was popular with many northern troops.
I didn't drink coffee until I joined the Army in 1974 and I learned to appreciate that coffee was a warm rink for a cold guard post night. I remember c-ration coffee which we mixed in those metal cups that fit around the plastic canteen. Mixing some c-ration cocoa with coffee seemed to be better than either alone. Munching on John Wayne bars while sipping this concoction was a special treat.
Learning to drink Army coffee helped me appreciate good coffee later in life.
[Update] reading SFC William Farrell's response reminded me that I also grew up drinking hot tea since my parents were British citizens. I learned that the water should be boiled and the teapot warmed up by boiling water before loose tea leaves or tea bags would be added. Tea strainers helped keep the steeped tea leaved out of your cup. I learned that you were not supposed to drink the last drop of tea in your cup so as to limit taking in tea leaves.
When I was young I super-saturated my tea with sugar. Now I drink primarily black coffee but I do enjoy a spot of tea every know then - orange or black Pekoe is my favorite.
LTC Stephen C. Capt Seid Waddell Capt Tom Brown CW5 Charlie Poulton SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SSgt Robert Marx SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" SSgt (Join to see) TSgt Joe C. SGT (Join to see) SPC (Join to see) LTC Greg Henning Kim Bolen RN CCM ACM Maj Marty Hogan PO2 Ed C. PO3 Steven Sherrill PO1 John Miller SPC Margaret Higgins
I didn't drink coffee until I joined the Army in 1974 and I learned to appreciate that coffee was a warm rink for a cold guard post night. I remember c-ration coffee which we mixed in those metal cups that fit around the plastic canteen. Mixing some c-ration cocoa with coffee seemed to be better than either alone. Munching on John Wayne bars while sipping this concoction was a special treat.
Learning to drink Army coffee helped me appreciate good coffee later in life.
[Update] reading SFC William Farrell's response reminded me that I also grew up drinking hot tea since my parents were British citizens. I learned that the water should be boiled and the teapot warmed up by boiling water before loose tea leaves or tea bags would be added. Tea strainers helped keep the steeped tea leaved out of your cup. I learned that you were not supposed to drink the last drop of tea in your cup so as to limit taking in tea leaves.
When I was young I super-saturated my tea with sugar. Now I drink primarily black coffee but I do enjoy a spot of tea every know then - orange or black Pekoe is my favorite.
LTC Stephen C. Capt Seid Waddell Capt Tom Brown CW5 Charlie Poulton SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SSgt Robert Marx SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" SSgt (Join to see) TSgt Joe C. SGT (Join to see) SPC (Join to see) LTC Greg Henning Kim Bolen RN CCM ACM Maj Marty Hogan PO2 Ed C. PO3 Steven Sherrill PO1 John Miller SPC Margaret Higgins
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Great article, SP5 Mark Kuzinski. I never even drank coffee until I entered the Army. I always thought Army coffee tasted terrible, but if I was in the field on a cold night, it absolutely hit the spot!
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MCPO Roger Collins
Ditto, except it kept me awake on watches on board the boat (submarine). Now my wife perks it in an old pyrex percolater and I have to have my "good" coffee each and every morning.
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MCPO Roger Collins
If you ever get East, stop in and I'll have her brew you a fresh cup that I am certain you will like.
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SMSgt Lawrence McCarter
Same here, I never drank coffee either until I went into the Air Force, now I don't think I can survive without it.
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