What Is Slang for Coffee?

Did you have High Octane Java or the Breakfast of Champions this morning? Do you consume Liquid Gold all throughout the day or perhaps you like a cup of Tar in the evening? How about the taste? Was it like Sludge or Exotic Silk? These tongue-twisting turns of phrase are slang words for a cup of coffee.

Coffee’s long and beloved history has led people to devise some of the most interesting ways to reference the beverage. These range the gamut between the expected to the downright hilarious.

From Where Does the Term for “Coffee” Come?

“Coffee” has known documented use since 1582. This originates with the Dutch word, “koffie.” But, even that word has connections to the Arabic, “qahwah.” But it references a type of wine from Arabia, Yemen or Ethiopia, not coffee. No one really knows or can truly trace it back with any amount of certainty.

Some people speculate it has a connection to the Ethiopian kingdom of Kaffa. But, it could also be a combined compound word from Arabic “qahā,” or lack of hunger and “quwwa,” meaning energy or power. The latter instance seems to make more sense, but this isn’t a verifiable fact.

What Is Slang for a General Cup of Coffee?

There are a myriad of slang words people have used over the centuries to refer to coffee. Some of these are new while others a much older and no longer in circulation. But, if any of them suit you, perhaps you can revive their use into the vernacular.

• Breakfast of Champions
• My Reason for Living
• High Octane
• Morning Joe
• Seattle Speedball
• Morning Jolt
• Cup O’ Spunk
• Jamocha
• Java
• Mocha
• Go Juice
• Cup of Wakey Wakey
• Brain Booster
• Brain Cloud Eraser
• Jitter Juice
• Liquid Energy
• Rocket Fuel
• Leaded (caffeinated)
• Unleaded (decaf)
• Cuppa
• Morning Fix
• Forty Weight
• Magic Morning Elixir
• Brew
• Perk
• Bean Juice
• Robot Fuel
• Hoppa
• Mother’s Little Helper
• Nescafé
• Morning Brew
• Java Lava
• Liquid Gold
• Mood Mover
• Zombie Antidote
• Muddy Waters
• Nitro
• Arbuckles
• Juan Valdez
• Lavatte
• Daily Grind
• Lifeblood
• My Morning I.V.

What Is Slang for Black Coffee?

There are many different names for coffee drinks that people immediately recognize, such as “cappuccino,” “espresso,” or “café au lait.” But did you know there several slang words for “black coffee?” The ones listed below are styles of coffee drinks and slang.

• Oil Slick
• Sludge
• Ink
• Worm Dirt
• Dirt
• Mud
• Mississippi Mud
• Black Lightning
• Café Noir
• Burnt Umber
• Red Eye
• Black Beluga

What Are Slang Words for Coffee that Describe Its Taste?

While most coffee slang words have a negative connotation when it comes to describing taste, there are a few that are pleasant. Then again, some people like to refer to their preferred coffee in these terms for sheer shock value.

• Varnish Remover
• Swamp Water
• Nail Polish Remover
• Battery Acid
• Nuclear Waste
• Exotic Silk
• Caustic
• Breakfast Bouquet
• Taste Bud Tango
• Cheese Brine
• Tar
• Lexington Steel
• Morning Leather
• Pepé le Pew
• Perk-tastic
• Crapuccino

What Is the Name for Coffee in Other Languages?

Since coffee is a worldwide phenomenon, it’s a good idea to know what they call it in other places. “Café” is hugely popular in several languages throughout many Western cultures, but other countries have words with a pleasant phonetic twist.

• Café – French, Portuguese, Spanish ; English
• Cafea – Romanian
• Caffè – Italian
• Caife – Irish
• Kāfēi – Chinese (咖啡)
• Kafés – Greek (Καφές)
• Kaffe – Swedish ; Danish
• Kaffee – German
• Kaffi – Icelandic
• Kahvi – Finnish
• Káva – Czech
• Keopi – Korean (커피)
• Kofe – Russian (Кофе)
• Kofee – Hindi (कॉफ़ी)
• Koffie – Dutch ; Afrikaans
• Kōhī – Japanese (コーヒー)
• Kopi – Malay

What Does “Cup of Joe” Mean?

There are several theories as to why people refer to coffee as a “cup of Joe.” We know that the first documented use of the phrase comes from a book in 1936. But, it could hark back to an early 19th century coffee roaster in New York City named Martinson Joe. It could also be a truncated version of “Jamocha.”

However, a more accepted version of history says that, secretary of the US navy in 1914, Josephus “Joe” Daniels banned alcohol consumption on US naval ships. The strongest drink allowed was coffee and disgruntled sailors may have said, “Cup of Joe” in reference to this.

What does seem more plausible is that it’s an English corruption of “cappuccino.” When cappuccinos began rising in worldwide popularity, people may have had a difficult time annunciating the word. Therefore, “cuppa joe” seems like a natural derivative.

How Did “Java” Become Another Word for Coffee?

The reason why “java” is another name for coffee ties to one of the most famous places for coffee production. Java is an Indonesian island that began growing the coffee tree upon introduction by 17th century Dutch traders.

Why Is “Mocha” a Euphemism for Coffee?

Just like “java,” “mocha” refers to the place from where this particular bean comes. Mocha is a place in Yemen and played a crucial role in the initial days of coffee’s growing popularity. The beans grown in Mocha actually come from Ethiopia and their production of it gained worldwide acclaim.

With its strategic location near water trading routes, it was convenient and cost effective to ship it from here. While the port of Mocha is no longer the coffee export king, people still use the word. Today, it can refer to a bean, the way a particular coffee tastes or it can be an actual coffee drink.

What the Heck is a Jamocha?

Jamocha is a word that comes from the late 19th century. It stems from when “mocha” was the common synonym for “coffee.” Java was yet another popular place for bean production. Some people began experimenting with blends and “jamocha” became a slang term for coffee.

Today, “jamocha” is often a slang word used on coffee shop menus to indicate an espresso mixed with chocolate and cream.