Waiter, Waiter, Percolator.
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The lyric is from “Java Jive,” a popular American song from 1940, famous for its lyrics celebrating coffee and tea, and its association with vocal harmony groups. It was written by Ben Oakland (music) and Milton Drake (lyrics).
The most famous version is by The Ink Spots, popular throughout the 1940s, when the stovetop percolator was as essential to the American kitchen as the icebox or the bread tin, its steady, rhythmic burble signaling the start of the day. Coffee was not hurried; it was coaxed upward, cycling through grounds again and again, filling the house with a rich, unmistakable aroma.
Today, the percolator has returned not out of necessity, but desire: for ritual over convenience, for a stronger, fuller-bodied cup, and for the quiet satisfaction of making coffee in a way that feels deliberate, timeless, and just a little bit romantic.
Whoops, Mr. Moto, I’m a coffee pot!
Dedicated to preserving the legacy of the iconic Anthora coffee cup – a true symbol of New York City’s street culture, corner delis, and daily rituals – NY Coffee Cup celebrates its enduring design, cultural significance, and place in coffee history, both in NYC and beyond.