Everyone in the military has coffee running through their veins, but when it comes to having things in joint there is very little that stands out quite as much as the love for coffee that everyone has. It’s the staple that keeps them all together in one way or another. It gives everyone a reason to gather around and chat about things that are happening in their training. From the first Sergeant who prefers to have it black and straight to the fresh lieutenant who likes to add a bit of coffee to his milk, coffee is the one thing with which everyone in the military agrees. Since the first patriot signed up to throw the tea into Boston Harbor, they hate tea so much that coffee has been part of the American military. So when instant coffee came to light during the first civil war, soldiers adopted it as part of their lifestyle. Let’s take a look at six reasons why coffee is the lifeblood of the military:
1. Helps with socialising
Coffee gives everyone, regardless of their rank, an opportunity to talk. However, there is a trap in the military that the last person to empty the coffee pot needs to refill it, which doesn’t require a ranking. The trick to this is to leave at least one cup in the coffee pot so that the last person refills it, and it gives the soldiers a chance to feel included because it is one of the tasks that isn’t explicitly assigned to only the lower-ranking soldiers.
2. Little to no sleep
The military is known for its strict discipline and training because a lot of it involves waking up early and needing to stay awake at other times to watch their posts during military exercises. The coffee helps them to stay away and to concentrate a little longer on the long nights. In addition, coffee is a stimulant, and caffeine can help the soldiers feel a little full during times when they cannot eat a proper meal.
3. Helps to keep them warm
During colder nights in training or combat, coffee can help to keep soldiers warm. They are often expected to stay awake all night in all seasons, and in winter months, when the temperatures reach the freezing point, the coffee can help keep them a little warmer in-between lookouts.
4. It’s a reminder of back home
When soldiers are working, they have very little time to ponder about their homes and their families because the job requires quick responses and high alert. Therefore, coffee is a reminder for many soldiers that they have something to look forward to when they finally go home. It reminds them of the opportunity to enjoy it with their families someday and the normality of everyday life when they are out in the field.
The troops are also required to work sparingly with many of the amenities they are given, and coffee is the one thing that they spend most of their money on while they are out in the field. So, as a result, coffee is also one of the highest requested items in their care packages.
5. It is part of the time off
The military is run at a strict time and activity restricted level that requires each individual to always be on time and always ready to get up and go. It is based on strict discipline that leaves very little room for error, and it makes no mistake in requesting the near-impossible from the soldiers. Coffee gives each one of the soldiers a chance to take a break and socialise with their peers. They are always running around and trying to catch up with the next thing to hit them, so being able to sit down and enjoy a cup of coffee gives them a few minutes to relax and think about nothing other than the coffee itself.
6. They live for the taste
There are very few vices that soldiers are allowed to have, and those do not include smoking or going out for drinks every night. When they get time off, they are allowed to go out and live a little like everyone else, but on duty, the taste of coffee is all they have. Whether they like it black with no sugar or sugar with a dash of coffee, it’s the thing that they get to look forward to every day. It’s the taste that reminds them of home and the drink that reminds them to slow down for a second and catch their breath. Taylor of Harrogate’s coffee bag reviews showed that coffee is the staple of the military for so many reasons, and the taste is definitely at the top of the list.