The obsession began over seven years ago. In 2006, I began at the Hampton Roads Naval Museum as a wide-eyed intern, ready to take on the new and fascinating world of naval history. I thought the coffee mess at work was reserved for staff and volunteers only. I did not feel comfortable partaking in the delicious brew until somebody told me I could. When I finally got the green light, I happily brought my coffee mug in the next day, eager to drink from the well all working class souls go to each morning.
This was my first experience with “Navy coffee.” It was hot and strong. Very strong. The thickness of it closely resembled crude oil. It tasted both wonderful and terrible at the same time. Your mind can trick you into believing anything. When a supreme pot of joe is brewed, many of the volunteers would call it “Signal Bridge Coffee,” recalling the nostalgia of long nights and many cups consumed.
After that first morning of coffee, I went to the break room to wash my cup and let it dry for the next day’s angry fix. As I washed out my cup, I felt the sting of glaring eyes from behind my back. I’m sure whoever it was, they could sense my hesitation. I turned around to see GMC Dana Martin, the museum’s active duty OIC. He had a puzzled, concerned look on his face. Chief Martin was grizzled and salty. He was by far one of the saltiest sailors I have ever met. He grabbled my arm washing the cup. My hesitation grew to fear. He leaned in close and told me to “never wash it again,” staring back down at my cup and back to me. I looked at him, puzzled with fascination and disbelief. Although I drink my coffee black, my mind struggled to find reason in the practice.
“I don’t understand,” I told him. “I need to clean my cup.” I was merely doing what I was taught. Bills should be paid on time. Five minutes early is five minutes late. Coffee mugs should be washed out after use. Simple, right? Wrong. I held my breath and found out just how wrong I really was.
He leaned in again, this time more relaxed (and less confrontational). “I know you are just starting out here, but I want to let you in on a little secret.” He was almost whispering. “If you intend to stay here at the museum, you can impress the Navy guys with your mug.” He went on to explain to me the significance of an unwashed or “seasoned” coffee mug, particularly in the Navy Chief community. “And keep it as tarry black as possible,” he added. “Sometimes it’s the only way you can drink this swill. But you will grow to love it and depend on the taste.” I would never think I would believe him. Boy, was I wrong.
Old coffee in a cup signifies seniority and stature in the military, particularly on deployment. As one blogger noted, “You may not be able to embrace your loved ones while you are gone, but at least you can still taste the same coffee you drank the day you left.”
To many in the military, this is nothing new. Ask anybody who served or is currently serving in the military, and they will likely give you a story about an experience involving the practice of “seasoning” their cup. Navy Chiefs, however, are considered by many to be the most Spartan of stalwarts to the unwashed coffee mug. I spoke to some retired CPOs who counted four or five deployments on a single unwashed cup. The August 1949 edition of All Hands Magazine declared that coffee was the “Lifeblood of the U.S. Navy.” The article goes on to discuss why many sailors take their coffee so seriously. The article opens with this paragraph:
The 1945 Cookbook of the United States Navy lists several reasons why a clean mug and pot of coffee is essential to a flavorful experience. All parts of the coffee mess had to be “scrupulously clean,” according to the cook book. Sailors today might read those guidelines and laugh at the rules and regulations.
Several recent articles about the practice surfaced on the internet on message boards and military news blogs. One blogger from the Military Times (Broadside Blog) wrote about it this past August. “There are only a few things you need to know about Navy coffee, and most of it involves the cup,” the blogger writes. “You do not wash a Navy coffee cup. Ever.”
I took Chief Martin’s advice, but not at first. For the first few weeks following our confrontation, I washed my cup out after he left for the day. But I got lazy after a while. I starting noticing dark brown rings inside my cup. My mug started to look like the inside of a tree, and I started to like it. The mug was white, so it was easy to measure my progress.
The rings grew larger and darker until the entire inside was jet back. Although I was never in the military, I felt a swelling of pride at my Frankenstein creation. Unfortunately, that mug did not survive. My latest and greatest creation came about in 2009. It has not been washed or cleaned since its purchase. I don’t know if my peers understand it. My wife surely doesn’t. I have a similar mug at home that she avoids looking at, and, on rare occasions, will clean when I am not looking.
Here is my (meager) contribution to this fine naval tradition. I warn you, if you are unfamiliar with the practice, you might be shocked. Behold: My four year “seasoned” mug:
Gil Bashore
USMC E5
Dan Mohan
kettle
Bob G
Gary
Tommy
Joseph
James Sirles
George Pelter
Stacey Hawthorne
Ed H
Atkins
Stacey Hawthorne
HMC Guido, USN (ret)
DON BUIS
Kyle K
Ang Brown
Garrett
KellyJ
Dan T
Becky Bernard
Andy Rutigliano
Tiny Artigue
Randy Smith
Richard Walter
William Timmerman
Lamont
ChipBuffalo
Jim Orlando
James
Terry Brewster
Harry G. West
Dave Berry
Mary Kronenberg
Tim
Matthew
Dave Simpson
John Croix, MMCS(SW)USN(ret)
Scott Bailey
Tom McCurry
Lisa Johnson
Kaylana
GMC (SW/AW) Dana L. Martin USN Retired
Joe Garhart
Darin Howard
James D Hawkins
ds1
David Falknor, TMT2
Shannon Hart
Randell Himes
trista
Winky White
Jay Mishler SN USN
Todd P.
Kevin Denson
Don C . East
Edward Elliott
Craig Johson
Ken Mitchell
John T. Gregg, MD
John T. Gregg, MD
john Henry
john Henry
SGT B
Gary P. Clark
J. William Cupp
Phil Goetz
Steve
Jim Bowman
William A. Pancake
Ellen Honeycutt
Bruce Hart (Coyote)
ChaosRN
Barbie
Master Gunnery Sergeant Crampton
Jim Case
AuntFlower
Ray Romero USN Ret.
Amn Anne Hofferkamp
Don Davis
Kathy
Tom (DocTommy) Lyons HM1(8404)-USNR-R (ret)
Ernest Copenhaver
Bill English OSCS(SW) Ret
Ernie Copenhaver
Myrna Williams
Dr Roger Stembridge
Roy Greene
Scott Smith (ATC USNR ret)
Brian Husak (ITCM-Retired)
Willy LumpLump
Sean Hogan
JoAnnB
Dennis Didier MCPO(Ret)
SCPO HARDMAN
Shakey Lou
SailorSherr
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Chris Johnson
Richard Keith Wolf
Atkins
Don Abamonte SKC(SW) USNR Ret
Roger Burns
Julie
BeirutGator1196
Clyde Nordan
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Wayne Rudolph HMC(SW/AW/FMF)(Ret)
Gary Shrout
Eric Sala
loren lockhart
George S. Harris CAPT MSC USN (Ret)
Charles (Chuck) Maack, CTOCM, USN 1949-1976 Retired
Bearden
Keith
Peter Wentworth
Horace E. Simon
Horace E. Simon
Daniel Suggs
William E Heritage
Bob Campbell
Dusty Engel
James Honaker
Chris Wilson
Mike Baltzgar (MS3/SS & SKC, USCG (ret.))
Donna M Haynes (AT/Sgt, USMC)
Charles (Chuck) Maack, CTOCM, USN 1949-1976 Retired
Jim Kirby
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Bob
Rev. Michael L. Simons
Rev. Michael L. Simons
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Erik Silfven
Ronald Brown MM1(SW) retired
Dave Malone TM2(SS/DV)
Admin
Dave Malone TM2(SS/DV)
vinnie crudele
FS1 Danny Gutfeld, USCG, RET
Ron Tucker, SMC(SW)/LT
J D
Tom Hall
Damon
5WarVeteran
Dennis
Eric
CT Johnson
robt. Schmesky
Stopping Through
Grimey Savage
steve r
Carol Gibbs
Pat Moretti
Larry D.
BMC (SW/DV) Tony Palm, USN (Ret)
Phil Schreiber
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Atley
Elba
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Ron Cook
HMC(SS) USN RET
Angelo markel
John Winkel
enugu
Coffeemug
Chthonic
Pat Moretti
Darin Stockham
HMCM(SW) M.D.Staden
Don Darby
Alan Downey
Michael Steckel
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