Happy National Coffee Day!
When I was a kid, visits from my Norwegian grandfather, “Groompa” as we fondly dubbed him, meant percolating coffee. My parents rarely brewed coffee at our home in Gig Harbor, unless Groompa was visiting. Fifty-five years later, I close my eyes and I can still hear it percolating, smell the rich aroma, and feel the anticipation of his visit from Vancouver. Despite being from the Seattle area, I’m not a coffee snob. In fact, I like vanilla lattes right here from our very own Buc-ees in Lake Jackson, Texas. Sorry, Starbucks, you won’t be hearing me order a tall skinny latte with a double shot of espresso and vanilla. I’m content to drive through Buc-ees and order a 16 oz vanilla latte, please.
I’m no doctor, but I know I feel better after a coffee, whether obtained from Buc-ees or my kitchen. Why do I drink it? It’s rich in riboflavin, manganese, potassium, magnesium and niacin. That’s got to be good, right? Apparently it’s known to increase the body’s metabolism. Hmm, I don’t see much evidence of that, but maybe it has to do with the choice of vanilla latte. Coffee also has antioxidants, reduces stress, and improves your overall mood. Being Scandinavian, I know how to practice “hygge.” The word means, to create a cozy environment, celebrate life’s simple pleasures, and indulge in comfort food accompanied by a cup of coffee. I can attest to this; a cup of joe always bolsters my spirit and helps me face the day.
There are theories that the expression a “cup of Joe” refers to Josephus Daniels, the secretary of the Navy in 1913. He prohibited alcohol aboard naval vessels, therefore; coffee became the popular drink on the high seas. Java and jamoke are also old terms for coffee. The theory I like best is that coffee is a common drink and Joe is considered “a common man” name. My Groompa was a common man, though he didn’t have “a common name”, his name was “Odd.” He was common in one way though; he was an average Norwegian. I might say, the quintessential Norseman. It is said, Norwegians consume four cups of coffee a day. My mother used to say that her dad lived on coffee, she called it "Norsk petrol.” On this day, I’m raising my cup to my Groompa!
So, for National Coffee Day, go ahead and brew that cup of Joe, snuggle up in your favorite armchair, grab a good book or click on your latest Netflix series. Better yet, ask Siri to play Frank Sinatra’s “The Coffee Song” or my personal favorite, “Java Jive” by the Ink Spots. Happy National Coffee Day, my friends!
*Published in The Facts for National Coffee Day 2024
