With a hardy snowfall for many I can’t help but think soup weather has arrived. Winter and soup go hand in hand here at the farm. Our newest neighbors put me onto a new kind of soup recently. Coffee Soup, or as some call it, Wet Toast.  

Growing up in Appalachia, we’re not strangers to cornbread and milk, vinegar pies, or dandelion salads. Our great grandmothers were thrifty, and capable of scrapping together little to make a lot, but coffee soup was a new one to me since coffee and milk seem perfectly fine to me served in a cup. Amidst the hardship of the Great Depression, food creativity flourished. Scarce resources and poverty led to inventive dishes, transforming humble ingredients into surprising meals. Coffee soup was one such concoction born out of necessity during the times. Even Al Capon, who opened the first soup kitchen during the hardest hit depression era, served coffee and bread.

Coffee Soup is made by combining brewed coffee with whatever ingredients were available, such as stale bread, sugar, and sometimes even a hint of fat. This humble meal provided sustenance and warmth at a time when food shortages and poverty were rampant. Today, coffee soup is served in many Amish homes by pouring freshly brewed coffee into a bowl, adding half and half, sugar, and crackers or bread.

For centuries, coffee was a luxury product that only wealthy people could afford. Coffee came to Europe in the 17th century, and Venice, in particular, was the gateway through which the aromatic beans quickly conquered the entire continent. Coffee was very expensive for a long time, but increasing consumption of coffee, which in the 18th century also began to reach the lower social strata.

Coffee soup’s popularity stemmed from its affordability and versatility, offering a comforting and filling option that could be easily customized based on what ingredients were on hand. It was also easy to create a fresh meal, with stale coffee left on the stove that had been brewing all day. Like vinegar pies and Pon Haus, which I will be sharing more about on my author site, coffee soup is one of those recipes that has lasted through the times.

I once came across a photo of a recipe called, Hard times recipe.  It was a recipe for coffee soup. I’d encourage you to try this one out. I for one wasn’t a fan, but I’m stubborn with my coffee and how I consume fresh bread, but . I’d love to hear your take on this soup or any not-so-forgotten recipes from the past.