Coffee On The Front-line

Originally Published: 3 May 2020

As front-line workers risk their lives by stepping into the trenches to battle Coronavirus, coffee chains around the world show their support by offering them free coffee. In the UK alone, companies such as Starbucks, Costa, Café Nero, Pret and McDonalds' all offered to give free coffee to front-line staff. Since March 25th, Starbucks has given "1 million cups of free coffee to front-line responders in U.S. and Canada." If this pandemic is to be likened to fighting a war then front-line staff are the foot soldiers.

But this isn't the first time coffee has fought on the front-line.

American soldiers have a long tradition of fighting battles- caffeinated.

THE CIVIL WAR: WHEN A COFFEE HERO BECAME PRESIDENT

It would be an understatement to say that Union soldiers loved their coffee. A broadcast on NPR's Morning Edition describes how the word coffee was present in soldiers' diaries more than the word: "war", "bullet," "cannon," "slavery," "mother" or even "Lincoln." The broadcast also mentions the diary entry of a Union solider, who frustrated by the coffee shortage in the army, wrote: "Nobody can solider without coffee" (1865). In fact, military commanders would plan attacks based on when their men had consumed coffee. A New York Times article quotes General Benjamin Butler telling another general before a fight in October 1864: "if your men get their coffee early in the morning you can hold."

The most iconic example of coffee on the front lines is an event from The Battle of Antietam- September 17, 1862. It is the heroic story of 19 year old William McKinley, who without orders, passed under fire to deliver hot coffee and food to soldiers. A monument in Antietam National Battlefield commemorates this coffee run- it depicts McKinley handing over coffee to a soldier.

Another fun fact- as the same NYT article puts it- "Three decades later, McKinley ran for president in part on this singular act of caffeinated heroism." By handing coffee to front-line workers at age 19, McKinley managed to have a monument dedicated to himself and then became president of the US. Most of our teenage years are spent deciding what drink to order at Starbucks.

WORLD WAR I: A CUP OF GEORGE

G.Washington's Refined Coffee was a popular instant coffee brand. In Killer High: A History of War in Six Drugs, Peter Andreas describes how the war led to a boom in the brand's popularity: "The US Army bought up the entire supply in the summer of 1918." Instant coffee became a front-line fuel for soldiers. The brand itself proudly advertised: “G. Washington’s Refined Coffee has gone to WAR.” Soldiers appreciated having coffee so much that they called it a "cup of George" to praise the company’s owner. In 'Holy Grounds', Tim Schenck describes how a soldier wrote home: "It takes only a minute to light my little oil heater and make some George Washington Coffee…Every night I offer up a special petition to the health and well-being of Mr. Washington."

WORLD WAR II: THE AMERICANO IS BORN

During World War II, food and drink had to be tightly rationed- Coffee was seen as a luxury product- one which many soldiers had to cope without. American soldiers still had their coffee addiction- now, stronger than ever. Italians couldn't live without their coffee. American troops stationed in Italy had quite the caffeinated privilege of being stationed in the coffee-hub of Europe. However, the Italian espressos were too strong for the Americans, who were used to drinking much lighter coffee- often through the Pour over Method (drip coffee). To accommodate the American taste, Italian baristas would offer a cup of hot water alongside the espresso in order to dilute it. Sound familiar? This beverage became popularised and dubbed 'The Americano' as we know it today.

A FRONT-LINE FUEL

While the world remains in lockdown, front-line workers work tirelessly to help humanity through the worst crisis we've faced in decades. Seeing pictures of medical staff taking a break with their cup of coffee shows us how this caffeinated beverage has once again, made it to the front-line.

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