If you visit cafes around the world, especially in parts of North America, you’ll come across some peculiar phrases and words, like cup of joe, java, mocha, and bolt juice. They don’t really sound similar, yet they all have one thing in common: They refer to a beverage we all know and love — coffee. So, how did coffee get the monicker “cup of joe”?
“Cup of joe” may be the most commonly used nickname for coffee, but its origins are unclear. The Josephus Daniels theory is the most widespread, however. It states that US Navy soldiers in the 1900s came up with the nickname after their leader banned alcohol on the ships and offered coffee instead.
Let’s take a closer look at the story behind coffee’s most used nickname. We’ll also take a look at some other names for the caffeinated beverage, so that you can recognize it anywhere you go.
Why Is Coffee Called a “Cup of Joe”?

The term “cup of joe” is so popular and common that most people automatically know you’re referring to coffee when you mention it. The interesting thing about this term, however, is that unlike other popular coffee slang terms like java, jitter juice, and mud, its origins are still a mystery to most people.
Several theories have been put forth to explain the origins, but most of them are either inconclusive or completely far-fetched. One of them involves a ban on alcohol on Navy ships and another suggests a coffee company came up with the term.
Whatever the actual story is, one thing is certain: The term is not only popular in the US but also across several English-speaking countries in Europe and Africa. Alternative forms of the term include cup o’ joe and cuppa joe.
People often come up with very descriptive words and phrases for coffee, because it’s become such an important part of our daily lives and culture. Coffee lovers even believe that your preferences when it comes to coffee say a lot about your personality.
If you’re interested in more of a deep dive on this subject, we recommend the books Coffee: A Global History, or The Devil’s Cup: A History of the World According to Coffee, both on Amazon. But let’s get back to this question of who Joe is and how this name might have come about.
Where Did the Name Originate?
As mentioned above, the exact origins of the term cup of joe are unknown, but we’ll explore some possible theories.
A Short Version of a “Cup of Jamoke”
Back in the day, coffee was mostly sourced from Indonesia or Yemen. Yemen-sourced coffee was called “mocha,” and Indonesian coffee was known as “java.”
Over the years, consumers started using the terms interchangeably, to the point where they mashed the two words to create the word “jamoka,” which meant coffee. Initially, they referred to coffee as a “cup of jamoka,” but they eventually shortened the phrase to a “cup of joe.”
The Josephus Daniels Theory
Josephus Daniels was an important guy. To be precise, he was the secretary of the US Navy in the 1900s. In an effort to repair the Navy’s damaged reputation, he banned the consumption of alcohol on ships. He then introduced coffee as an equally strong substitute for the soldiers to drink.
According to this theory, the soldiers weren’t too pleased with the ban and they grudgingly referred to coffee as a “cup of joe,” to mock Josephus Daniels. However, history archives state that this theory is the least accurate, because the term “cup of joe” only came to play in 1930, 16 years after the ban on alcohol took place.
G. Washington Theory
During World War I, the G. Washington refinery company became popular because of its instant coffee. The soldiers referred to a serving of this refinery’s instant coffee as a “cup of George.” Since the common abbreviation for George is Joe, some people believe that the phrase was later shortened to a “cup of joe.”
The Average Man
In North American culture, the average man is sometimes called an “average Joe.” And, for the longest time, coffee has been considered as the average man’s drink, so it was fitting to call it a “cup of joe,” which meant the average man’s drink.
How Long Has the Nickname Been Around?
Given that the nickname has so many possible origins, it’s hard to accurately say how long it’s been around. According to the Jamoka theory, the nickname appeared sometime in 1931, shortly after the terms “java” and “mocha” appeared.
The Josephus Daniels origin suggests an appearance around the same time, but this may not be accurate since it doesn’t align with historic archives. The nickname may have even appeared as early as 1914, if the G. Washington theory is true.
Basically, the nickname has been around long enough to make its way to all parts of North America and even some other parts of the world.
As it stands, it’s the most commonly used term for coffee other than coffee itself. In fact, it’s no longer considered strictly slang; some magazine articles even make use of the nickname.
What Are Some Other Common Nicknames for Coffee?

A “cup of joe” is not the only nickname used to talk about coffee. Here are some other commonly used nicknames:
- Java
- Dirt
- Mud
- Brew
- Daily Grind
- Jitter Juice
- Joe
Between nicknames for regular coffee and names given to coffee varieties, it may feel like you have to learn an entirely new language just to know more about coffee. The reason why coffee has so many nicknames is that, unlike other typical morning beverages, coffee isn’t just a drink — it’s a whole culture on its own.
Coffee has a way of bringing people together. For instance, people go on coffee dates to discuss business ideas, life plans, and so on. On the casual side, coffee drinkers will often share brewing recipes and tips on the best beans or brew sizes for specific coffee recipes.
With so many ideas being exchanged, it’s only natural that a new coffee lingo would emerge.
Other coffee words exist in other parts of the world too. For instance, “kopi” is the general term in the Pacific Islands, and several regions call it “jamocha” or simply “mocha.”
Conclusion
None of these theories about the origins of “cup of joe” have been thoroughly fact-checked. The truth is they all have elements of truth in them, but they could also very well be made up. So, when it comes down to it, pick whichever name resonates the most with you and use it proudly.