What Did Martha Say?

In the grand scheme of American history, certain questions capture our imagination. Who fired the first shot? Where was the Declaration signed? And perhaps less discussed but equally intriguing: Who decided how much coffee goes into the pot?

Enter Martha Washington, the woman behind the man, the manager of Mount Vernon, and quite possibly the nation's first coffee curator. While George may have been the public face of American leadership, Martha was orchestrating something equally important in her own domain: the art of the perfect cup.

The Kitchen Commander

Martha Washington wasn't just the First Lady of the United States. She was a curator of the home, a social hostess of legendary skill, and a woman who understood that life's greatest moments often happen around a table—or over a cup of coffee.

At Mount Vernon, Martha oversaw a household that required precision, planning, and an attention to detail that would rival any modern hospitality operation. Her levees—those winter social gatherings that brought together the influential minds of the new nation—were famous for their warmth and sophistication. Coffee wasn't just served at these events; it was showcased, prepared to exacting standards that Martha herself established.

Here's where it gets interesting. While we don't have Martha's handwritten coffee recipe (if only!), we do know from historical records and the practices of elite colonial households that coffee preparation was taken seriously. The ratio of coffee to water, the addition of sugar and cream, the temperature of service—these weren't casual decisions. They were expressions of hospitality, markers of status, and in Martha's case, likely a matter of personal pride.

The Recipe for Connection

Colonial coffee wasn't the quick-brew convenience we know today. It was an event, a process that required skill, patience, and knowledge passed down through generations. At Mount Vernon, this process was overseen by Martha and executed by enslaved workers who mastered the craft.

The beans would be roasted in front of the kitchen fire, a task requiring constant attention and a trained eye to achieve the perfect color and release of oils. Too light, and the coffee would be weak and sour. Too dark, and those precious flavor notes would burn away. Once roasted, the beans were ground by hand—a laborious process using a hand grinder, creating grounds that needed to be just the right consistency.

Then came the brewing. Without modern filters or precise measuring tools, colonial coffee makers relied on experience and intuition. The general practice in well-to-do households was to use approximately one to two tablespoons of ground coffee per cup of water, though the strength would vary based on personal preference and the quality of the beans. Given the expense and value of good coffee, every ground was precious.

But here's what makes Martha's influence particularly significant: she understood that coffee was about more than caffeine. It was about bringing people together. At her breakfast table, visitors noted that coffee was served alongside tea, giving guests the choice between two very different beverages—one connected to the old British traditions, one to the new American identity.

Sugar, Cream, and Ceremony

The addition of sugar and cream to coffee tells its own story about colonial America. Sugar, produced primarily on Caribbean plantations through the labor of enslaved people, was a luxury item that signaled wealth and worldliness. The Washingtons kept refined sugar in covered bowls—part of the elegant porcelain sets that graced their table.

Cream was another mark of sophistication. While milk was common enough on plantations with dairy cows, cream required separation, cooling, and proper storage—all tasks that required additional labor and planning. Offering cream with coffee showed guests they were valued, that their comfort mattered.

Martha likely had clear opinions on the proper ratios. Some guests preferred their coffee dark and strong, cut with just a touch of cream. Others enjoyed a lighter brew, sweetened generously with sugar or molasses. The key was flexibility—understanding that hospitality meant meeting people where they were, giving them choice, making them feel at home.

In this way, Martha's approach to coffee parallels what we see in GEORGE. There's respect for quality and tradition, but also an understanding that everyone's perfect cup is personal. Some days you want the bold intensity of regular roast. Other mornings call for the smoothness of decaf. And when convenience matters, pods offer the same premium experience without compromising on flavor.

The Family Tradition

Coffee wasn't just for formal occasions at Mount Vernon. It was woven into daily life, into the rhythm of mornings and the close of meals. George's habitual breakfast, according to one of Martha's granddaughters, included three cups of tea without cream—but coffee was equally present at the breakfast table, ready for those who preferred it.

This flexibility, this abundance of choice, reflects Martha's role as the keeper of traditions but also as someone who understood that traditions evolve. Coffee had only recently become the American beverage of choice, replacing tea after the Boston Tea Party in 1773. Martha witnessed this transition, adapted to it, and helped shape what it meant to serve and enjoy coffee in the American way.

When guests visited Mount Vernon after George's death, Martha continued to preside over the tea and coffee service. One visitor in 1802 noted how she "seated herself" at the head of the table, "and sent the tea and coffee to the company." This wasn't passive hosting. This was active participation, a hands-on approach that ensured every cup met her standards.

The Ratio We've Forgotten

Modern coffee drinkers obsess over ratios—grams of coffee to milliliters of water, extraction times, water temperature. We have precision tools Martha could never have imagined. Yet somehow, in all our exactness, we sometimes miss what Martha understood intuitively: the perfect cup of coffee is the one that brings people together.

That said, there's something to be said for quality as the foundation. Start with exceptional beans—like the Specialty Grade Coffee in GEORGE—and you're already ahead. These are beans that have been lab-tested, carefully selected, and roasted by masters who understand their craft. They're the kind of beans Martha would have approved of, the kind that don't need artificial flavors or gimmicks to shine.

From there, the ratio becomes simpler. The standard guidance that has stood the test of time suggests about one to two tablespoons of ground coffee per six ounces of water, adjusted to personal taste. But here's Martha's secret, passed down through centuries of coffee lovers: start strong and add water if needed, rather than starting weak and having no way to strengthen it. Quality beans are forgiving—they can handle bold extraction without becoming bitter.

Made in USA Heritage

Martha Washington took pride in American craftsmanship, even as the young nation was still finding its footing. She supported local artisans, used American-made goods when possible, and understood that building a nation meant building its economy from the ground up.

This spirit lives on in GEORGE. These beans are roasted by elite master roasters in the U.S., not in some distant factory where quality control is an afterthought. They're designed and packaged in the USA, creating jobs and supporting communities. It's the kind of approach Martha would recognize—investing in American excellence, ensuring that what bears the Washington name meets the highest standards.

The Gathering

Here's what Martha understood better than most: coffee is never just about coffee. It's about the pause in a busy day. It's about the conversation that happens over a shared cup. It's about the ritual of preparation, the anticipation of that first sip, the satisfaction of getting it just right.

When Martha served coffee at her levees, she was creating space for connection. Politicians and diplomats, neighbors and friends—they all gathered around the warmth of her hospitality. The coffee was the vehicle, but the destination was community.

Today, when you brew GEORGE, you're carrying on that tradition. Maybe it's your morning ritual before the house wakes up. Maybe it's the pot you put on when friends drop by unexpectedly. Maybe it's the careful preparation you do for a special breakfast, wanting everything to be perfect.

Whatever the occasion, you're doing what Martha did: using coffee to create moments that matter. You're taking something simple—water and beans—and transforming it into something memorable.

What Martha Would Say Today

If Martha Washington could weigh in on modern coffee culture, we imagine she'd have some thoughts. She'd appreciate the quality and consistency that modern roasting techniques provide, but she'd insist on beans worthy of the effort. She'd love the convenience of pods for busy mornings, but she'd make sure they delivered on flavor, not just speed. She'd embrace decaf as a way to extend the coffee ritual into evening hours without sacrificing sleep.

Most of all, she'd remind us that the best ratio, the perfect recipe, the ideal strength—these are all secondary to the real purpose: bringing people together. Coffee is the excuse we use to slow down, to pay attention, to care for the people in our lives.

What did Martha say? We imagine she said something like: "Take your time. Use good beans. Get the proportions right. But never forget—you're not just making coffee. You're making memories."

GEORGE coffee, available in regular, decaf, and pods. Because the perfect cup is the one you share.

Continue Your Journey with GEORGE:

What Would George Brew? - Discover the fascinating history of George Washington's coffee preferences, from Mocha beans to Mount Vernon's coffee roasting techniques, and how those flavors connect to your cup today.

George Specialty Coffee Guide - Only the best quality beans make it into specialty grade coffee. Learn more about the unique aspects of specialty coffee.

Why Coffee Not Tea? - Uncover how coffee became the symbol of American independence after 1773, and why George Washington's choice of coffee over tea helped define a nation.