Presidents Day—the odd stepchild of American holidays. We here at Ready Set, however, being the staunch presidential historians and purveyors of coffee, are wholeheartedly thrilled to celebrate our presidents of yore and the coffee these gentlemen may or may not have had when sitting in the Oval Office. Since old Georgy Porgie was in office, presidents have long sipped on coffee, though as George himself stated, "[Most] Drinkers could not distinguish it from bitter hot water."
Early on, in the Revolutionary era, coffee and coffeehouses became a place of political discourse. Like the salons of Paris, Americans discussed politics, society, and Enlightenment ideals over cups of java in local coffeehouses—the early incubators of revolution! Next time you see someone clacking away on their MacBook Pro in the corner of the cafe, just know that you may be in the presence of our next George Washington.
In the following years, as America strove for independence, coffee became more than something to wake you up in the morning—it became a political symbol. After the Boston Tea Party, Britain passed the Intolerable Acts and put heavy tariffs and duties on tea and other goods. In light of the economic warfare kicking off between the colonies and Britain, drinking tea throughout the colonies would have signaled one’s political loyalties in public.
Americans at this point began to separate themselves from tea in favor of coffee, demonstrating their political, economic, and social distinction from the British and forging a separate cultural identity around this beverage. Johnny Adams, el presidente number two, began drinking coffee every afternoon and stated, "Tea must be universally renounced… I must be weaned, and the sooner, the better."
From post-independence onward, coffee and tea existed in the American diet side by side, served post-dinner, in luncheons alongside lemonade, and at breakfast. James Madison preferred "ham or salt fish, herring… coffee or tea, and slices of toasted or untoasted bread spread with butter." Talk about a breakfast of champions!
Since then, coffee has been instrumental in the day-to-day functions and pivotal moments of the U.S. presidencies. For example, Grant munched on a pickle alongside his cup of coffee. Perhaps it was a reflection of his humble upbringing as a tanner's son in Ohio, but it's also said that Grant might have scaled back on his own breakfast to save the best rations for his soldiers.
Teddy Roosevelt, on the other hand, born a sickly child with asthma, was given strong cups of coffee, puffs on a cigar, and sips of whiskey to ease his discomfort. Later on in his presidency, he’s said to have drunk a gallon a day—which isn’t much of a surprise when considering his other feats as a politician and president.
Dwight Eisenhower, in the years before his presidency and in the lead-up to D-Day, reportedly drank 24 cups of coffee and smoked six packs of cigarettes a day while averaging two hours of uninterrupted sleep per night. Today, many art school graduate students and third-shift employees scoff at this number as amateurish at best.
For Presidents Day, we've asked resident amateur-at-best Ohio historian Cameron Mays to craft a selection of blends that honor the legacies of Ohio’s own commanders-in-chief. From the bold and complex to the smooth and refined, each roast reflects the unique character of these historic leaders. So let's raise our mugs to some of Ohio’s finest presidents:
William Henry Harrison - Hi Fi Espresso
William Henry Harrison’s presidency could be affectionately described as “short and sweet.” Same with Ready Set’s Hi Fi Espresso roast. Notes of chocolate and peanuts, perfect for an espresso shot. Just don’t drink it in the rain!
Ulysses S. Grant - Guatemala Antigua Los Volcanes
The Civil War general had a drinking problem and an explosive temper, but recent historical ratings rank him the best of Ohio’s presidential offerings. Similarly, the rich volcanic soils of Antigua produce acclaimed coffee beans. As far as the first part of the description goes, we’ll leave it to the varietal notes of bourbon found in Guatemala Antigua Los Volcanes.
Rutherford B. Hayes - Brazil Cerrado
A name that sounds so stereotypically presidential, you might want to Google it to make sure we didn’t just make it up. But yes, he’s a president. A staunch abolitionist and a Civil War veteran—two things you want in a 19th-century president. Brazil Cerrado is like that but for coffee.
James A. Garfield - Garage Blend Deep Track
Born from humble origins in Cleveland’s suburbs. Today, cherished Cleveland landmarks, so to speak. Deep Track is a Ready Set classic. James Garfield was a classics professor at Hiram College. Go figure.
Benjamin Harrison - Amplifier Roaster’s Blend
Benjamin Harrison was the grandson of William Henry Harrison; the duo is the only grandfather-grandson presidential pair in U.S. history. Amplifier is modeled after Italian espresso. Pretty far from American espresso, but Benjamin Harrison was pretty far from a true Ohio president—he lived most of his life in Indiana.
William McKinley - Manos de Mujer
The red carnation was famously worn on McKinley’s lapel throughout his presidency, later becoming Ohio’s state flower. The fragrant aromas of a different flower, the orange blossom, inform Manos de Mujer’s complex flavor profile. Similarly complex was the political machine led by Cleveland industrialist Marcus Hanna that put McKinley into office...
William Howard Taft - Sumatra Mandheling
Taft was more proud of his post-presidency career, which included teaching law at Yale and serving as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Those brainy roles required much time in libraries, reading by the fire. Smoky, rich, and complex—just like Sumatra Mandheling.
Warren G. Harding - Positively Placebo
Probably the worst president to come from Ohio, remembered mostly for his involvement in the Teapot Dome scandal. The only thing Positively Placebo is bad for is caffeine.