This Week in History: Coffee Rations!

This week, in 1942, the United States began rationing coffee.

My questions is why? Were supplies low during war time? What reasonable explanation could there be? 

According to www.nww2m.com, the decision to ration coffee wasn't because of a lack of product. In fact, supplies were readily available from South America. It had more to do with the lack of mean to transport large quantities and, during wartime, coffee was considered an unnecessary luxury. Danger from German U-boats also caused concern to US merchant ships.

Below is an article from The San Bernardino County Sun, dated November 29, 1942. The article explains the process and limits of the rationing. One pound of coffee per adult (over 15 years old) every 5 weeks! 

It also states that there was a freeze on the sale of coffee in the weeks leading up to the rationing - allowing grocers time to stock up on the product before the masses arrived.

Now, I'm going to go enjoy a nice, unrationed, iced coffee to start my day!