There are plenty of ways that coffee is referred to in slang all around the country. Some of the most common ones are a cup of joe, brew, java, cuppa, mud, bean juice, and many more! There are countless ways to refer to this endlessly popular drink, so it’s impossible to document them all!
That being said, there is plenty that are used more regularly than others, so we’ll go over more if you read on!
Cup of Joe
One of the most popular slang terms for coffee, especially in America, is “cup of joe.” This is one of the most well-known and most used slang for coffee in the whole country. But where did it come from?
The leading theory is that it came about when Josephus Daniels was appointed secretary of the Navy, he outlawed the use of alcohol on Navy vessels in 1914. Becasue of this, coffee ended up being the strongest drink on all navy ships. This made it the most popular beverage onboard these vessels.
The sailors were not too happy though, and to poke fun at the secretary, started calling cups of coffee “cups of joe” instead. Eventually, this term spread through the whole navy and then eventually into the regular American’s vocabulary as well, where it remains today.
Brew
Brew is actually a slang term for coffee prepared in a particular way. Specifically, brew refers to coffee that is made by pouring hot water over the ground beans and allowing to bloom. However, over time, like all slang terms, brew expanded to basically mean any cup of coffee.
Be careful with this one, though as brew can also refer to tea! This is important to know, as you can’t quite use this term to order at a restaurant, but it’s still a pretty good term to know, as coffee is often referred to as brew throughout the United States.
Java
The slang term java is similar to a cup of joe, in that it has a rumored start that makes a lot of sense. Back in the 19th century when coffee was first sweeping the nation and becoming extremely popular, one of the most common places coffee was coming from at the time was an Indonesian island called Java.
Because of this, people started to refer to coffee as java. This term stuck very well through the years, and eventually, similarly to the slang terms mentioned above, entered the average person’s vocabulary as a way to refer to coffee.
Cuppa
Cuppa is a slang term for coffee that is less familiar to many Americans. The main reason for this is that it is mostly used by folk in England. The true origin of this term is unknown, but it came about in Victorian times and was popularized in the mid 20th century. It is short for “cup of” coffee.
Cuppa, similarly to brew, can also be used for tea. Tea is even more popular among the English than coffee is, so cuppa is more often used for tea than coffee. Still, it is used for coffee as well, so it is a good slang term to know.
Mud
Mud is a slang term for coffee as well. More specifically, mud (or dirt) often refers to coffee that might still have grounds in it or tastes no good. This isn’t so much a slang term one would use to order coffee, but might be something closer to something someone would use to describe some bad coffee.
If the coffee you’re making is being called mud, it might be time to invest in a better coffee maker, or maybe just sharpen your skills when it comes to brewing.
Coffee can be called dirt as well, which is basically the same as calling it mud. Both of these are not meant to be compliments or ways to order the drink.
Bean Juice
Bean juice is one of the most straightforward slang terms that is often used for coffee. Since coffee comes from coffee beans and is turned into a liquid by running water through these ground beans, people have taken to calling coffee bean juice.
This term isn’t quite as old or storied as terms like “cup of joe” or “java,” but it has become pretty popular over the last couple of decades!
Leaded
Leaded coffee refers to coffee that has caffeine in it. This is often used as a distinction when ordering coffee, as in saying you’d rather have caffeine in your coffee than take it decaf. It’s important to differentiate because if you want the energy-boosting effect of caffeinated coffee, you better order it leaded!
Unleaded
Unleaded, like leaded, is a slang used to differentiate decaf coffee from caffeinated coffee. Specifically, unleaded means decaf coffee. This is a useful term for ordering coffee, as you want to make sure there isn’t caffeine that you don’t want in your coffee, as this can lead to unwanted side effects such as anxiety, insomnia, and more.
Rocket fuel
Rocket fuel refers to strong or bold coffee. This coffee often has more caffeine than normal coffee and provides more energy than the average cup. It can often refer to coffee that tastes extremely bold as well.
Coffee slang in England
As mentioned in earlier, coffee in England is often referred to as cuppa. However, this term can also be in reference to tea, so it is important to understand the context of the use of the term and be able to use it properly.
Black coffee with no sugar, cream, milk, and other additives is often called “Americano” in England as well. This is because this is a more popular way to take your coffee in the United States than it is in other parts of the world.
That being said, Americano means something different in the U.S., as it is a diluted espresso drink when ordered here, so be careful using this slang if you’re on this side of the pond.
Hi, I’m Jen Williams, chief editor and writer for ThirstPerk.com.
I’ve been drinking coffee and tea for most of my life, but it wasn’t until I started working at Thirstperk.com that I became an expert on the subject. I’m a total caffeine addict who has spent hours upon hours reading about and experimenting with the different types of coffees out there in my search to find the perfect cup of joe.
I’ve been a tea lover for as long as I can remember as well. I grew up in a house with a mom who loved to drink herbal tea, and I think that’s where my love for tea first began. These days, I’m always on the lookout for new and interesting teas to try, and I love experimenting with different brewing methods and flavoring combinations.