The 30 Best Songs About Coffee, from Java Jive to Coffee and TV

What is the most famous song about coffee?

"Java Jive", a 1940 hit for the Ink Spots later revived by the Manhattan Transfer, is the classic song about coffee, along with the torch song "Black Coffee", Bob Dylan's "One More Cup of Coffee" and Blur's "Coffee and TV". Frank Sinatra's "The Coffee Song" and Squeeze's "Black Coffee in Bed" are fan favorites too.

Classic songs about coffee

1. "Java Jive", the Ink Spots, 1940: a playful ode to coffee and tea.
2. "Black Coffee", Sarah Vaughan, 1949: a smoky torch song, later recorded by Peggy Lee and Ella Fitzgerald.
3. "The Coffee Song (They've Got an Awful Lot of Coffee in Brazil)", Frank Sinatra, 1946: a bouncy novelty hit.
4. "Let's Have Another Cup of Coffee", Irving Berlin, 1932: a cheerful Depression-era tune.
5. "Cigarettes and Coffee", Otis Redding, 1966: a slow, soulful late-night ballad.
6. "One More Cup of Coffee", Bob Dylan, 1976: a haunting song from Desire.
7. "Coffee Blues", Mississippi John Hurt, 1963: a gentle country blues about a favorite brand of coffee.
8. "C-O-F-F-E-E": the traditional German round about coffee that children still sing.

Rock and pop songs about coffee

9. "Coffee and TV", Blur, 1999: Graham Coxon's song with a famous milk-carton video.
10. "Black Coffee in Bed", Squeeze, 1982: a soulful song about a lost love.
11. "Tom's Diner", Suzanne Vega, 1987: an a cappella snapshot of a morning at a diner.
12. "Coffee Shop", Red Hot Chili Peppers, 1995: a funky track from One Hot Minute.
13. "Cup of Coffee", Garbage, 2001: a moody breakup song.
14. "Wake Up and Smell the Coffee", the Cranberries, 2001: the title track of their fifth album.
15. "Coffee", Sylvan Esso, 2014: a gentle, hypnotic electronic song.
16. "Coffee", Miguel, 2015: a sensual R&B song about mornings together.

Coffee songs for a morning playlist

17. "Here Comes the Sun", the Beatles, 1969
18. "Good Morning", from Singin' in the Rain, 1952
19. "Lovely Day", Bill Withers, 1977
20. "Walking on Sunshine", Katrina and the Waves, 1985
21. "Morning Has Broken", Cat Stevens, 1971
22. "Beautiful Day", U2, 2000
23. "9 to 5", Dolly Parton, 1980: the workday anthem, with a rhythm Dolly first tapped out on her acrylic nails.
24. "Good Day Sunshine", the Beatles, 1966

Songs for a coffee shop

25. "Fast Car", Tracy Chapman, 1988
26. "Banana Pancakes", Jack Johnson, 2005
27. "Don't Know Why", Norah Jones, 2002
28. "Gravity", John Mayer, 2006
29. "Riptide", Vance Joy, 2013
30. "Put Your Records On", Corinne Bailey Rae, 2006

Why coffee shows up in so many songs

Coffee is part of the rhythm of daily life: the first cup of the morning, the late-night diner, the cafe where couples meet and the kitchen table where hard conversations happen. Songwriters use it as a shorthand for comfort, routine and intimacy, which is why it turns up in jazz torch songs, soul ballads, indie rock and R&B alike. For songs about another everyday ritual, see our songs about rain.

Coffee in jazz and the blues

Coffee was a favorite subject in the jazz and blues eras. In "Black Coffee", sung by Sarah Vaughan, Peggy Lee and Ella Fitzgerald, a lonely cup of coffee stands for heartbreak, while the Ink Spots' "Java Jive" and Sinatra's "The Coffee Song" are pure fun. Mississippi John Hurt's "Coffee Blues" shows how even an everyday brand name could become the start of a great song.

Coffee songs for kids

Children in many countries learn the traditional round "C-O-F-F-E-E", which spells out the word and gently warns about drinking too much of it. It is a fun song to sing in parts with a class or a family, and a good introduction to singing rounds.

Songs about coffee for a gift or a party

For a coffee lover's birthday, a brunch party or a new coffee shop opening, mix the classics, "Java Jive", "The Coffee Song" and "Black Coffee", with modern picks like "Coffee and TV" and "Coffee". For a cozy weekend playlist, add the coffee shop favorites above. For more feel-good music, see our happy songs.

A song about the coffee lover in your life

Everyone knows someone who cannot start the day without coffee. A personalized song can celebrate them: their name, their favorite order, their morning routine and the funny stories everyone tells about them, with an acoustic, jazz or pop sound. It makes a fun birthday gift or a sweet surprise for a barista, a coworker or a partner.

How to create a personalized song

1. Choose a style from 14 genres: acoustic, jazz, pop and more.
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The full 3 to 4 minute song costs $35.99, or $40.99 for Premium with four full versions and editable lyrics. You get the MP3, a gift page and the lyrics as a PDF.

Give them a song of their own: create a song and hear four previews for free.