[BigWalleye]

Originally Posted by Aktungbby

Actually they did and made do with 'ersatz coffee' of every description: In Britain, this was additionally popularised as an adjective from the experiences of thousands of U.S., British, and other English-speaking combat personnel, primarily airmen, who were captured in the European Theatre of operations during World War II. These Allied POW's were given ersatz goods such as Ersatzkaffee, an inferior Getreidekaffee or "grain coffee" as a coffee substitute by their German captors also known as Mucke**** possibly from the French "mocca faux".. In WWII, Acorns were used to make coffee... or toast chicory or rice...I can't start the day without a cuppa joe ritually ground be me from whole Arabica French roast beans in my Krupp coffee maker... WAR is HEll !! http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaffee%...s_Getr%C3%A4nk

What you say is true. That was the experience of Allied POWs in Germany. (Ersatz meaning substitute von Deutsch.) Ersatz became an English loan word for any inferior substitute.

But losing a boat-load of Arabica (Robusta, more likely!) would not have had an impact on British morale, military or civilian, like losing a boatload of Virginia long-leaf or (Heaven forfend!) Canadian rye.

And Churchill himself would have been bereft at the loss of a boatload of Cohibas!