A Love Story Brewed at Sea: The Navy’s Eternal Romance with Coffee

Ah, love. Some find it in moonlit strolls, others in whispered sweet nothings. But for Sailors? Love is dark, bold, and scalding hot. That’s right—there’s no love story quite like the one between the U.S. Navy and coffee. It’s a bond forged in the early morning haze of reveille, sealed by countless mid-watch refills, and strengthened through years of deployments, liberty call, and the kind of caffeine dependency that would make a barista blush.

Love at First Sip

The romance began centuries ago, when early mariners realized that a hot cup of coffee could keep them alert through long nights and stormy seas. By the time the U.S. Navy was established in 1775, coffee was already a staple aboard ships, warming the souls of Sailors as they stood watch, battled the elements, and tried to remember why they ever thought sleeping in a steel box with 200 roommates was a good idea. (U.S. Navy History)

By the 20th century, coffee wasn’t just a beverage—it was mission-critical fuel. Whether brewed in the ship’s galley, sludged together in an old percolator, or hastily mixed from a packet of instant mystery powder (yes that's right the MRE), coffee became as much a part of Navy culture as sea shanties and creative uses of duct tape.

The Cup of Joe We Know and Love

Ever wonder why coffee is called a “Cup of Joe”? It’s not just legend—it’s historical fact. In 1914, Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels issued General Order No. 99, which banned alcohol aboard all naval vessels and installations. (Naval History and Heritage Command) This left Sailors with nothing but coffee to drown their sorrows, and as a result, they began sarcastically referring to it as a “Cup of Joe” in his honor (or dishonor, depending on how you look at it). And so, with every sip, the Navy’s love affair with coffee deepened—because when given the choice between a shot of rum or a shot of espresso, any Sailor worth their salt knows the right answer is… both.

Coffee: The Sailor’s True Valentine

Let’s be honest—relationships at sea are complicated. But coffee? Coffee is always there for you. It doesn’t judge your rack’s questionable state of cleanliness. It doesn’t care if you’ve been at sea for 90 days without seeing land. It never complains when you spill it all over your uniform five minutes before an inspection. (Military Times)

From the instant packets stuffed into rucksacks to the sacred shipboard coffee mess (where the mug-staining rule is law), the Navy’s love for coffee has stood the test of time. It’s been there through battles, liberty ports, and the occasional engine room flood. And unlike that bad decision on shore leave, coffee never leaves you with regrets.

The Role of Coffee in Naval Traditions

Beyond its functional benefits, coffee has also become a cherished part of naval traditions. Think about the morning mess decks, where the smell of freshly brewed coffee signals the start of a new day, regardless of whether you’ve been awake for hours standing watch. Or the unspoken rule that the most junior Sailor is responsible for making the first pot in the Chief’s Mess—a rite of passage that comes with both risk and reward. (USO)

Coffee isn’t just a drink in the Navy; it’s an anchor to routine, a sign of stability in the ever-rolling chaos of life at sea. It’s the glue that holds conversations together, the icebreaker for a new duty station, and the reliable companion when letters from home feel too far away.

Coffee and the Watchstander: A Love Built on Necessity

There’s no greater love story than the one between a watchstander and their cup of coffee. Mid-watch, the dreaded hours between midnight and dawn, would be utterly unbearable without a hot cup of coffee to keep those eyelids from slamming shut. Sailors standing lookout on the bridge, engineers in the depths of the ship, and radiomen (yes I know I am dating myself by using that rating) monitoring the endless stream of comms traffic all share one unifying need: caffeine. (Smithsonian Magazine)

The stronger the coffee, the better. There’s a reason the phrase “Navy coffee” is synonymous with a brew so potent it could strip paint off a bulkhead. It’s not about taste—it’s about survival.

Old Salt Coffee: Keeping the Romance Alive

Here at Old Salt Coffee, we know that every Sailor—past and present—deserves a love that never lets them down. That’s why we craft our coffee with the same dedication and grit found in the Fleet. Our Liberty Call Blend is the perfect way to show appreciation for the heroes who serve year-round, and if you’re looking to impress your Valentine, we’ve got the perfect coffee pairings to make the morning unforgettable.

So this February, whether you’re underway, retired, or just an old salt who still wakes up at 0530 for no reason, hoist a mug and toast to the greatest love story ever brewed.

Fair winds, following seas, and Hoist A Mug, shipmates!

Photo Credit - LIFE Magazine Archives - Eliot Elisofon Photographer WWP-PD