At least one Civil War era canned product remains in production, Borden's sweet condensed milk. Sometimes, Federal soldiers got a treat a can of sweet condensed milk and they made a creation they called "milk toast" with hardtack.

Gail Borden was awarded a patent for sweetened condensed milk in 1856. Sugar was added to prevent bacterial growth. Borden first thought the condensing process made the milk more stable, but later learned it was the heating process that killed the microorganisms that spoiled milk. Few Federals drank their coffee with milk; it was not part of the ration and cost too much to buy from the sutler. They cut their joe with sugar. Most soldiers would mix their sugar ration with their coffee when they received it. This ensured a somewhat sweet cup of coffee each time it was made.

There was rarely any shortage of coffee beans in the Yankee camps, and many regiments were actually issued rifles, one per 100-man company, with a coffee grinder built into the stock. The best coffee was slow roasted over a low fire, "until of a chestnut brown color and not burnt, as is so commonly done." It was to be boiled briskly for two minutes, then take from the fire at once, a little cold water thrown in, then the boiler's contents poured through a piece of flannel after it had settled for five minutes."

Needless to say that ol’ staple that we can’t do without to start our day in modern life was not a luxury as it is today it was a necessity for the weary soldiers on both sides of the conflict.

Just think what the soldiers of the Civil War would’ve thought about a large mocha frappacino with a dollop of crème on top at $5.25 a cup at Starbucks