I saw this in a US news article which puzzles me
What is a "Cup of Joe"?

A cup of coffee.

Anyone know the origin of this?
We in the Uk as far as I know have No NickNames for coffee
Tea however is called Rosie or Rosie Lee also Char (but it's going out of fashion in our area)
http://www.twinings.com/en_int/history_tradition/origins.html
Nearest UK reference linking Joe and beverages
is this:

quote:

---

In 1894 Joe Lyons opened his first tea rooms in Piccadilly, and during the first half of the 20th century Lyons Corner Houses were an essential stop on any shopping
trip to the capital.

---

Very early example of a cafe chain?
It's a long shot, but could Lyons' have opened
some in New York, but serving coffee instead?
Sounds logical?

Origins of Navy Terminology

"Josephus Daniels (18 May 1862-15 January 1948) was appointed Secretary of the Navy by President Woodrow Wilson in 1913. Among his reforms of the Navy were inaugurating the practice of making 100 Sailors from the Fleet eligible for entrance into the Naval Academy, the introduction of women into the service, and the abolishment of the officers' wine mess. From that time on, the strongest drink aboard Navy ships could only be coffee and over the years, a cup of coffee became known as 'a cup of Joe'."

This is a better story than "Joe" being a variation of "java" so I'm sticking with it.

Pathetic,. A teetotal navy mess indeed ! In the Royal Navy it was the rule that every sailor received a ration of rum every day. The officers received it neat but it was diluted for lower ranks. Teetotalers received cash in lieu of the rum. Sailors were allowed to 'splice the mainbrace' that is they were granted an extra ration , if they did particularly difficult or arduous duty at any time. The practice of the daily rum ration was abolished only in 1970. Presumably taking any amount of alcohol was thought a hazard when using high-tech equipment.The ration was an eighth of a pint of rum a day, issued between 1130 and midday, as one drink, but latterly at the end of a shift of work. The main problem was that some officers, receiving theirs neat, undiluted, would not drink their share but would pass it to harder drinkers, with predictable results. The money in lieu was hardly worth claiming so it became quite common for officers to take but not drink the ration.