Why Do They Call It... A Cup Of Joe?

Whether it's the beans, blend, or overall brew, many of us are good to go with a cup of joe. But how did this quick fix of caffeine get its name?

For the love of coffee, people pour into Wired Gallery and Cafe on Main Street in Bethlehem.

It's like, oh what are you drinking?, said Carla Dintinger. Let's sit down and have a cup of coffee. It's a bonding session.

Many sit and sip the warmth, the flavor, their cup of joe.

It's something to be a connoisseur of, said Dintinger.

Some brag about the beans. Others boast about the roast. Call it a fascination with caffeination.

But what's up with calling it a cup of joe?

One theory is that it was named after Secretary of the Navy, Josephus Daniels. The story goes that he banned the serving of alcohol on ships in 1914.

The strongest thing they could get was a cup of coffee, said Dintinger. As kind of a jab at him, they decided to call it a cup of joe.

But that's not the only explanation. It could have been a modification of java or jamoke, which were other names for coffee.

Or, another suggestion, it could have been influenced by the expression "an ordinary Joe," meaning the common man's drink.

Whatever the reason, don't ask folks to let go of their cup of joe.