# What is/was "Boston-style coffee"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** coffee\ **Created:** [June 4, 2004, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-was-boston-style-coffee/248722 "2004-06-04T22:41:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-was-boston-style-coffee/248722/41 "2013-01-10T15:02:33Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > It was definitely true 8 years ago! :rolleyes: Really? Maybe I’m just out of the loop, but I haven’t heard it in a real life situation since the 80s. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-was-boston-style-coffee/248722/42 "2013-01-10T15:03:03Z")
As long as we’re on the subject, somewhere on the Food Network, I heard about a drink called Coffeemilk. I think it was bottled and only available in one of the New England states. Anyone familiar with it? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-was-boston-style-coffee/248722/43 "2013-01-10T15:10:41Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > As long as we’re on the subject, somewhere on the Food Network, I heard about a drink called Coffeemilk. I think it was bottled and only available in one of the New England states. Anyone familiar with it? That’s the Autocrat syrup Hershele is talking about. They are the major provider of coffeemilk products here in RI. > [@Hershele\_Ostropoler](#): > > My neighborhood grocery store, here in Brooklyn, used to carry Autocrat syrup, but no more, alas. > > (There, that’s on topic whether we’re talking about coffee or Rhode Island.) ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-was-boston-style-coffee/248722/44 "2013-01-10T15:11:57Z")
NM, double post ---
**Author:** ![UncleMoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e0b2c6/32.png) [@UncleMoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleMoose)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-was-boston-style-coffee/248722/45 "2013-01-10T15:19:52Z")
Some Rhode Island info - To answer tdn, “frappe” is pronounced frap (rhymes with wrap) - if you pronounce it frap-pay, it means you’re not from around here. From shagnasty, a “spa” was a mostly a soda fountain, where you would go to get tonic (soda), milkshakes (which did not have ice cream), or frappes/cabinets (which did have ice cream). I don’t know where “cabinet” came from either. A “packie” is a liquor store. At one point the law was that liquor stores had to wrap the contents of a sale in wrapping paper and tie it up with string. You couldn’t walk out of the store with a bottle (even a bag with a bottle in it), you walked out with a package. The reference to Autocrat syrup leads back to coffee flavoring. No, not flavoring you put in coffee, but Autocrat was (mostly) known for making (sort of) coffee flavored syrup you could add to milk. Many people know of chocolate milk, some know of strawberry milk, but round these parts you could get coffee milk, coffee milkshakes, coffee cabinets (here we go again), and even coffee shakes from McDonald’s. These tasted nothing like real coffee - I grew up drinking coffee milk, but I’ve never learned to drink real coffee. I once ordered coffee milk, and got a cup of coffee and a glass of milk. Turned out the waitress had just arrived from Long Island. ---
**Author:** ![fumster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9c0ed/32.png) [@fumster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fumster)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-was-boston-style-coffee/248722/46 "2013-01-10T19:45:09Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > I don’t think that’s so prevalent now, although maybe still in R.I. Still going strong in Boston. Just got back from Quincy, MA the home of the first Dunkin Donuts ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-was-boston-style-coffee/248722/47 "2013-01-10T19:52:57Z")
If I ordered a cup of coffee and got coffee with cream in it, I would expect my money back, or my order made right. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-was-boston-style-coffee/248722/48 "2013-01-10T20:25:24Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > If I ordered a cup of coffee and got coffee with cream in it, I would expect my money back, or my order made right. You’d spend a lot of time being annoyed in the greater Boston area. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-was-boston-style-coffee/248722/49 "2013-01-10T21:34:58Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Really? Maybe I’m just out of the loop, but I haven’t heard it in a real life situation since the 80s. I was refering to the fact the OP is 8 years old. ---
**Author:** ![fumster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9c0ed/32.png) [@fumster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fumster)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-was-boston-style-coffee/248722/50 "2013-01-10T23:41:53Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > If I ordered a cup of coffee and got coffee with cream in it, I would expect my money back, or my order made right. That’s only if you ordered a “coffee regular” or “regular coffee” if you just order “coffee” they’ll ask how you want it. ---
**Author:** ![Sal\_Ammoniac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Sal\_Ammoniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sal_Ammoniac)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2013, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-was-boston-style-coffee/248722/51 "2013-01-11T00:27:07Z")
Speaking of Dunkin Donuts, my smartphone reveals there are 29 of them within a two-mile radius of me. So guess what part of the world I live in. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2013, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-was-boston-style-coffee/248722/52 "2013-01-11T01:12:55Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > I think it’s one of those foods like “English Muffins” that are unknown in the place they are named after. Yep. I was startled to learn that normal hotdog buns are known as “New England style” everywhere but here. **ThelmaLou** , yes. To me it tastes like someone put out cigarettes in very weak chocolate milk. Needless to say I’m not a fan of coffee milk. **Sal Ammoniac** , clearly you live around here. Else you couldn’t give directions by the distance to the nearest DD. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2013, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-was-boston-style-coffee/248722/53 "2013-01-11T20:45:21Z")
> [@Sal\_Ammoniac](#): > > Speaking of Dunkin Donuts, my smartphone reveals there are 29 of them within a two-mile radius of me. So guess what part of the world I live in. Not near me, I only have 13 in a 10 mile radius. ☹ 😃 ---
**Author:** ![fredboston2002](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f05b48/32.png) [@fredboston2002](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fredboston2002)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2013, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-was-boston-style-coffee/248722/54 "2013-08-15T20:53:13Z")
“Boston Coffee” is a term used in other parts on the country, other than Boston, to refer to coffee with a lot of cream and sugar. In Boston - you just order by saying you want your coffee “Regulah (sic.)” Most Bostonians drink and order coffee that way. For example, when I was in Chicago and would go to a Dunkin Donuts I would order a Boston Coffee. If you asked for it that way IN Boston, they’d think you were nuts! In these days with all of the special coffee drinks, this term is probably out of use, but that’s the deal. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2013, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-was-boston-style-coffee/248722/55 "2013-08-15T20:56:49Z")
> [@fredboston2002](#): > > “Boston Coffee” is a term used in other parts on the country, other than Boston, to refer to coffee with a lot of cream and sugar. In Boston - you just order by saying you want your coffee “Regulah (sic.)” Most Bostonians drink and order coffee that way. For example, when I was in Chicago and would go to a Dunkin Donuts I would order a Boston Coffee. If you asked for it that way IN Boston, they’d think you were nuts! > > In these days with all of the special coffee drinks, this term is probably out of use, but that’s the deal. You resurrected a 9 year old thread to repeat information that was already given in post #5? ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2013, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-was-boston-style-coffee/248722/56 "2013-08-15T21:01:01Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > What’s strange is that American Cheese is not one of these. > [@TriPolar](#): > > I was surprised that London Broil is not a dish known in London England. Maybe it came from London Ontario or some other London though. > > I don’t drink coffee, so I have no idea what a Boston style or regular coffee in Boston means, but I’ve heard that ‘regular coffee’ varies by region. > [@elfkin477](#): > > Yep. I was startled to learn that normal hotdog buns are known as “New England style” everywhere but here. That you all for your prompt responses to my “Boston coffee” answer. ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2013, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-was-boston-style-coffee/248722/57 "2013-08-15T21:20:15Z")
Playing with Google Books to look into this query (before noticing it is a zombie), I wonder if it might originally have been something more than just coffee with cream? I find [this snippet](http://books.google.com/books?id=yCZIAAAAYAAJ&q=%22boston+coffee%22&dq=%22boston+coffee%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=vkMNUvHeEs3eyAH7l4GQBg&ved=0CEEQ6AEwAw) (though annoyingly can’t see more than that) from a 1931 issue of American Cookery: > [@](#): > > …the place, the coffee was excellent, better that he best coffee in other places. Our whole family would appreciate knowing how to make your Boston coffee. > > **How to Make Boston Coffee** > This query fills us with both pride and confusion. Pride to think that a… > > … > > …quart of water. Even if you follow the last two rules you still won’t be able to make Boston coffee unless you use Boston city water. Say, why don’t you pack up and move to Boston? We should just be awfully glad to have you. The missing instructions may be Step 1: Make coffee Step 2: Put cream in the coffee but now I’m more curious. But whatever it is, it can’t have been much of a thing. Google Books returns almost nothing and Google Ngram returns null for both “boston style coffee” and “boston coffee”. ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2013, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-was-boston-style-coffee/248722/58 "2013-08-15T21:26:35Z")
Oh, this snippet is from a 1908 issue of Up to the Times Magazine. > [@](#): > > “What is Boston coffee?” asked the customer at the lunch counter. “It’s the kind you put the cream in first,” answered the waiter girl. “But why is it called Boston coffee?” “Because the cream is put in first.” "Yes, I know but when a man orders… Why it would matter that you pour the coffee into the cream instead of the cream into the coffee, I don’t know. ---
**Author:** ![svd678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@svd678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/svd678)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2013, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-was-boston-style-coffee/248722/59 "2013-08-15T21:27:57Z")
When I was a soda-jerk in a suburb of Boston many years ago, many asked for “coffee half”. (half milk) Never heard of Boston coffee. Regular coffee is coffee that’s not decafe, now anyway. I don’t think we served decafe back then. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2013, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-was-boston-style-coffee/248722/60 "2013-08-15T22:12:42Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > All you have to do is go down your local spa, probably right next to the packie and they will tell you. Yeah, wicked pissah! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-was-boston-style-coffee/248722.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-was-boston-style-coffee/248722.md?page=4)