# When I hear Java, the first thing I think of is... **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 20, 2011, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-hear-java-the-first-thing-i-think-of-is/593407 "2011-08-20T04:04:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![OneMissedPost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e7dd6/32.png) [@OneMissedPost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneMissedPost)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-hear-java-the-first-thing-i-think-of-is/593407/41 "2011-08-22T02:14:00Z")
I voted for a computer programming language. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-hear-java-the-first-thing-i-think-of-is/593407/42 "2011-08-22T11:12:17Z")
Probably the computer language, but there is also a board game > **[Java](https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/855/java)** > > As a Javanese ruler, become the dominant force in this underdeveloped area. Brian ---
**Author:** ![Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/4bbf92/32.png) [@Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heart_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-hear-java-the-first-thing-i-think-of-is/593407/43 "2011-08-22T14:35:17Z")
I’m really surprised; I thought _way_ more people would say “coffee”. I mean, I’m a programmer, and do a ton of work in Java and JavaScript, and even I think “coffee” first. In fact, even when I think of the language, I still have the “coffee” definition present in my mind. After all, the [name](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Java_%28programming_language%29#History), [the](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/39/Java_logo.svg) [logo](http://download.oracle.com/javase/6/docs/technotes/guides/deployment/deployment-guide/upgrade-guide/images/java_logo.gif), and even [structural](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enterprise_JavaBean) [components](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JavaBean) of the language are explicit references to coffee. > [@robardin](#): > > Just wondering: for those who said “coffee” was their first association with the word “java” - is that actually common usage for you, and if so, where are you? As I mentioned earlier, I literally cannot recall ever hearing the word “java” for coffee except in a very old song from the 1940s (“Java Jive”) and in word puzzles. I’ve never seen it listed on a menu either. Pretty much people just say “coffee”, in my experience, unless it’s something even more specific that they want, like a “soy latte macchiatto” or some such. Occasionally, I’ll hear or give a jaunty request for “a cup o’ joe”. But never “java”. I’m on the East Coast, but grew up in the Midwest, and I did and do see “Java” used all the time. Never as a spoken request for coffee (“I’d like a java, please”), but as a reference to it, constantly. There are roughly one million and eight cafes called “[The Java Joint](http://www.toms-river-nj.com/www.toms-river-nj.com/images/large/java-joint-386x438.jpg)”, “[Java Junction](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_k-Zi6xQxPn4/S9JxgJNINhI/AAAAAAAAACs/f9sz6dGwATI/s1600/IMG_3894.JPG)”, “[Just Java](http://www.palmdesertmarketplace.com/images/Just%20Java/Just%20Java%20Coffee.png)”, “[Jumpin’ Java](http://www.google.com/search?q=cafe+java&hl=en&biw=1024&bih=583&prmd=ivnsm&source=lnms&tbm=isch&ei=zWNSTuCOFsrD0AGO8LCoDg&sa=X&oi=mode_link&ct=mode&cd=2&sqi=2&ved=0CAoQ_AUoAQ#hl=en&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=Jumpin%27+Java&pbx=1&oq=Jumpin%27+Java&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm=s&gs_upl=36706l36706l0l37422l1l1l0l0l0l0l0l0ll0l0&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=806ef30e4525e6d5&biw=1024&bih=583)”, “[Jammin’ Java](http://www.google.com/search?q=cafe+java&hl=en&biw=1024&bih=583&prmd=ivnsm&source=lnms&tbm=isch&ei=zWNSTuCOFsrD0AGO8LCoDg&sa=X&oi=mode_link&ct=mode&cd=2&sqi=2&ved=0CAoQ_AUoAQ#hl=en&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=Jammin%27+Java&oq=Jammin%27+Java&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm=s&gs_upl=20600l21117l0l23171l4l4l0l0l0l3l1056l2798l0.1.6-2.1l4l0&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=806ef30e4525e6d5&biw=1024&bih=583)”, “[Cafe Java](http://www.google.com/search?q=cafe+java&hl=en&biw=1024&bih=583&prmd=ivnsm&source=lnms&tbm=isch&ei=zWNSTuCOFsrD0AGO8LCoDg&sa=X&oi=mode_link&ct=mode&cd=2&sqi=2&ved=0CAoQ_AUoAQ)”, and “[Java Cafe](http://www.google.com/search?q=java+cafe&start=10&hl=en&sa=N&biw=1024&bih=583&prmd=ivnscm&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&ei=d2NSTpm0Eunn0QGkh8DwBg&ved=0CG4QsAQ4Cg)”. I’d wager it’s _the_ most common word in cafe and coffee company names, including “coffee”. I also found a line of “Monster” energy drinks called “[Java Monster](http://www.theimpulsivebuy.com/images/javamonster.jpg)”, Twix “[Java](http://www.google.com/search?q=twix+java&hl=en&biw=1024&bih=612&prmd=ivns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=SGVSTsBRofbSAYO3raEH&ved=0CEcQsAQ)”, and coffee-colored [makeup](http://www.houseofbeautyworld.com/mipoeyeshjab.html), [clothing](http://www.footlocker.com/product/model:85839/sku:52228617/#sku=52228617&size=M), and [accessories](http://www.amazon.com/Authentic-Pigment-100-Cotton-Sling/dp/B001JDLEZW) with"Java" in the name. It seems like whenever someone wants to sell something coffee-related and not use the obvious word, they go with “Java”. But you’re right, I’ve never heard someone actually use “Java” to refer to an actual cup of coffee. It’s a marketing thing. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-hear-java-the-first-thing-i-think-of-is/593407/44 "2011-08-22T15:05:24Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > I don’t even process it as a language anymore. It’s just that @&%^Q!\*ing update pop-up agAIN! ! ! :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: I didn’t even know it was a language. Just that it was some computer something. I said coffee. ---
**Author:** ![Pitchmeister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pitchmeister/32/3459_2.png) [@Pitchmeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pitchmeister)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-hear-java-the-first-thing-i-think-of-is/593407/45 "2011-08-22T15:11:55Z")
> [@Pitchmeister](#): > > What? 28 responses in and no one mentioned the Javas from Star Wars? That’s actually the first thing that comes to my mind. > [@Jragon](#): > > I think those are Ja **w** as. Ouch! I should have known that! Feel a bit dirty and also guilty for looking down on people who spell Wookiee with one “e”… ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-hear-java-the-first-thing-i-think-of-is/593407/46 "2011-08-22T18:10:24Z")
It was a close call, but I went “Indonesian island” first\*. Computer thingy second, with coffee (as in, “a cup of java/joe”) a rather close third. (\*Maybe because I have a second cousin who lives there.) ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-hear-java-the-first-thing-i-think-of-is/593407/47 "2011-08-22T21:22:37Z")
I first thought of coffee, and I lived in Indonesia for a couple of years. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-hear-java-the-first-thing-i-think-of-is/593407/48 "2011-08-22T23:16:53Z")
I voted Other. I think of [Al Hirt.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfYFEPQ-gY0) No, I’m not kidding. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-hear-java-the-first-thing-i-think-of-is/593407/49 "2011-08-23T00:34:49Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > I voted Other. > > I think of [Al Hirt.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfYFEPQ-gY0) > > No, I’m not kidding. > mmm I sense that we have similar tastes and memories. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-i-hear-java-the-first-thing-i-think-of-is/593407.md?page=2)