Where have you bean all of my life?

The majority of us praise coffee every morning, and perhaps celebrate it every afternoon when that infamous 3pm slump hits. While caffeine can come in many forms, this feature celebrates International Coffee Day on Thursday, October 1.  Every year on this day, the world comes together to celebrate and recognise farmers, roasters, baristas, coffee shop owners and at-home amateur coffee baristas. It’s on this day that you could probably get away with an extra shot of coffee or an additional cup of joe to celebrate in the name of coffee.

As for the phrase “cup of joe”, its origin is uncertain. The first theory is that in 1914 Josephus Daniels, who was a Secretary of the Navy, banned US Navy ships from serving alcohol. As a result of this ban, the sailors began to drink more coffee. As Daniels was accountable for the ban, he therefore became partly to blame for the increased intake of coffee. The sailors then nicknamed the drink after him – Joe being short for Josephus.

Another more plausible theory is that the word ‘joe’ can often mean ‘an ordinary man’, as in the term ‘an average joe’. It’s a term that is used to describe someone who is thought to be an everyday, ordinary kind of person. Therefore, by nicknaming coffee as a ‘cup of joe’, it indicates that it’s a drink for the average person or the common man. However, in our somewhat biased opinion, our Peninsula-made coffee and blends are far from average – they’re cool beans.

This year we’re celebrating the entire coffee ecosystem and the connections that coffee allows us to make around the world and within our community. It goes without saying that coffee means so many things to so many people. It is energy, celebration, livelihood, friendship, joy and so much more. Local baristas, coffee suppliers, roasters, brewhouses, wholesalers, coffee shops and cafes have joined us this month to ‘espresso’ their love. So why not order some beans online to make your favourite coffee at home? Or stop by your local café that uses your beloved coffee blend and order your coffee hit while maintaining social distancing, and take your brew to go.

Join us on October 1 for a cup of coffee – after all, it’s a ‘brewtiful’ day!