A Cup of Joe
Joe Cool Java Freeze
By: Kathy Brahan
from Hungry Girl’s 200 Under 200
¼ cup light vanilla soy milk, cold
4 teaspoons Coffeemate® Sugar-Free French Vanilla powdered creamer
1 teaspoon instant coffee granules
2 no-calorie sweetener packets
1 ½ cups crused ice or 8 to 10 ice cubes
In a tall glass, combine powdered creamer, coffee granules and sweetener with ¼ cup hot water. Stir until the ingredients have dissolved. Add ½ cup cold water and stir. Transfer coffee mixture to a blender with soy milk and ice. Mix at a low to medium speed until shake is just blended but not liquefied. Pour into your glass and enjoy.
Deep Thoughts
Americans love their coffee. More than 50 percent of us drink (need) a cup (at least) to start our days. According to the National Coffee Association, we drink an average of 3.1 cups of Joe daily. But where did the term “cup of Joe” come from? Theories on the origin of this saying vary: some claim it is a military term, others say it emanates from a New York neighborhood, and still others attribute the term to the average guy.
In 1914, the Secretary of the Military—Josephus (Joe) Daniels—banned the “wine mess” from all ships and alcohol was removed. This left little for the military personnel on the ships to enjoy. Coffee became the drink of choice on naval vessels and some believe that “a cup of Joe” was named after Secretary Daniels.
Andy Warhol enthusiasts might remember the Martinson Coffee Company can immortalized by the great modern artist. Martinson Coffee, named after Joe Martinson, filled the air of the New York neighborhood where it was brewed with the aroma of freshly roasting coffee. Locals insist that the saying, “a cup of Joe,” was a result of Joe Martinson’s brewing process.
Finally, many feel strongly that “a cup of Joe” was named after the average guy in the 1930s or 1940s that liked the average cup of coffee. Joe was used as a common slang in those days for fellow or guy. Think about these everyday uses: the average Joe, G.I. Joe, Joe Cool (see above recipe) or Joe Blow…
Regardless of the source it’s good to know that you can get a cup of Joe-to-go pretty much anywhere you go.
Kathy Brahan is a marketing communications professional with more than 20 years of experience in corporate communications, public relations and journalism. She currently works at Philips Respironics and is the president of Kilobyte Communications.