That Old Black Magic – Coffee
Drinking coffee. It’s part of Navy life, heck part of all military life. Coffee on the boat though, that was real mans coffee.
Real men drink coffee made with old grounds piled on new in the filter, from a cup that was cleaned before the weighed anchor. I’m sure this is where the term ‘mud’ originated.
Tough cleaning problem? Pour on some coffee.
Need to stay awake for that third watch in a day? Pour on some coffee.
Coffee in military life is a valuable commodity. When something comes in 20 lb. cans, it must be important.
More than for drinking yourself, cans could be exchanged for favors. More than one bit of work on the boat got done quick with a bit of black stuff exchanged.
Sure the sailor might stray to something softer once in a while, like a beer. But the days don’t go by that won’t find him/her cup in hand, steam a rising, and so dark you can’t see the bottom.
Coffee. Drink of soldiers everywhere.
Original photo by Telstar Logistics.
Mike Golch Said,
July 25, 2010 @ 21:23
heck we had coffee just like that in the squadron i was in at Mcclelland AFB.
Mike Golch recently posted..A Sunday Thought
Jim Armstrong Said,
July 26, 2010 @ 11:46
The “coffee” on the Pollack & Guardfish was from a dispenser with two buttons. One was for hot water only, the other mixed freeze-dried coffee in with it. It was some of the most god-awful stuff, but we all drank it, since we were sleep-deprived like 90% of the time.
Cookie Said,
August 1, 2010 @ 13:23
Hey Mate, a few months back I suggested you (and especially your submariner readers) might want to read a true and funny story about something I did while stationed on the USS Piper SS 409 back in “64″.
At the time, I didn’t have a more accurate link for you to the story so here it is;
http://thecookshack.blogspot.com/2006_05_21_archive.html
Go to this link on my blog and the second post down “Ohh Man, I’m in reeeal deep shit this time!”
After posting this account, I had submariners from all over the country, new and old (and some who knew this living legend, Joe Negri) leaving comments. I’m sure you will all enjoy it.
BTW, it fits right in with your post today already being about coffee
Enjoying your blog amigo, keep it up!
Cookie Said,
August 1, 2010 @ 14:16
Ooops, <B?3rd post down.
Cookie recently posted..Sunday Sundriesa mostly Patriotic sentiment blog-post
Matthew Said,
August 7, 2010 @ 00:03
My boat would buy Starbucks coffee
Romeo Said,
August 7, 2010 @ 07:39
It wasn’t until I got to the boat and started standing watch that I begin drinking coffee. Well, at least the beginning of routinely drinking coffee prior to each watch, despite the time of the day. It had became a necessary “enjoyment” and the highlight of each watch in the engineering spaces. Each person would take pleasure in showing off their bag of flavorful trophy, but could only choose from one. And of course, for the salty, crusted chief, we would only make “boat” coffee. No vanilla flavored coffee for him.
Neil Nelson Said,
August 7, 2010 @ 09:47
I had a HMC who’s coffee mug had not been washed in 15 years! The inside was as black as sin. I guess he pissed off this HN and that night, the HN took the mug and spent 2 hours with Alcohol wipes cleaning half of the inside of the mug! We were at muster the next morning and the HMC almost had a stroke! I think he actually cried that his mug had been violated. No one ever admitted it to the HMC but the HN for the next few months got every crap detail that came up.
Todd Jordan Said,
August 7, 2010 @ 11:00
Cookie, going to check that story out now. Thanks again.
Matthew, Starbucks? How was that possible? Carrier?
Romeo, flavored coffees? Maybe I was in too long ago to have that be common. Ha.
Nell, We never washed our mugs. I didn’t drink coffee but I was just as bad. Rinsed it quick and onto the sipping.