In the 1960s, many adults were coffee drinkers. According to Retro World, the most popular coffee brand for American households in the 1960s was Maxwell House. This was also the era when instant coffee became a more popular choice for people on the go.
Coffee drinkers are often curious about the history of their favorite beverage. On this page, we’re going to cover what type of coffee people were drinking in the 1960s. Keep reading to learn more about the history of coffee.
What Was The Best-Selling Coffee In the 1960s?
The 1960s was a big era for coffee, but the most popular brands were Maxwell House in North America and Lyons in the UK. By 1964, Maxwell House was the top coffee brand for 36 % of American households.
In the 1960s, instant coffee was also rising in sales. There was a heavy advertising campaign for this style of coffee and more working-class households began to enjoy the convenience of instant coffee.
When Did Instant Coffee Become Popular?
Instant coffee began to become a more popular choice on people’s grocery lists in 1963. Before this time, surveys were done in the 1950s and people thought that instant coffee was for people who were lazy or lacked planning skills in their routine.
Advertisements encouraged more people to try this style of coffee with an open mind. This changed people’s perspective on the drink and more people realized how much they enjoyed the simplicity of instant coffee.
Was Coffee a Big Deal in the 1960s?
Coffee was not as popular in the 1960s as it is today and sales were nowhere near as high. This is mainly because there was just basic coffee and people didn’t have all the specialty options to choose from.
Only adults drank coffee in the 1960s and it wasn’t an exciting beverage. According to Scientific American, there was even a decline in coffee sales during the 1960s compared to the 1950s.
What Was the Most Common Coffee Making Method in the 60s?
In the 1960s, most households made coffee using the pour-over method. They would put coffee grounds in a filter and then pour boiling water over them.
The coffee would then drip into a pot or cup below the filter. This allowed for a flavorful hot beverage without any of the grinds in the cup.
Did People Drink Cold Brew Coffee in the 1960s?
Cold brew coffee has been around since the 1600s, however, it rose to popularity in the 1930s when the process was reinvented in Cuba. In the 1960s, the Toddy Brewing System was invented to make cold brew coffee easier to make.
However, while cold brew coffee was heard of, it wasn’t a common choice among American coffee drinkers in the 1960s. It wasn’t until the 1990s that cold coffee beverages became a popular choice in the US.
Did People Drink Espresso in the 1960s?
The electric espresso machine was invented in the 1950s to make espresso easier to make, however, in 1961 the pump-based espresso machine was invented which boosted the popularity of this strong coffee drink. This brought the espresso drink to become more common in coffee shops around this time.
The pump design is still used in espresso machines today. In this design, the water passes through a tube that goes through the boiler, heating up the water before it hits the coffee.
What Was The Major Coffee News in the 1960s?
Before the 1960s, exporting coffee from different countries wasn’t common. This created a problem for North American coffee drinkers as supplies were very limited.
According to Espresso Coffee Guide, in 1962 President John F Kennedy was able to introduce an international coffee agreement. This allowed coffee to be exported worldwide.
Did People Use Automatic Coffee Makers in the 1960s?
Bun Corporation introduced an automatic drip coffee maker in 1963 to be used at restaurants. This machine was similar to the pour-over method, but it was also able to keep the coffee warm for longer on a heated element.
People enjoyed this method of coffee, but the first at-home automatic drip coffee maker wasn’t introduced until 1972. This was the Mr. Coffee coffee maker, made by Vincent Marotta from Ohio.
Was There Bad News For Coffee in the 1960s?
In 1969, coffee lovers received some devastating news when the heiress to the Folger’s Coffee fortune, Abigail Folger, was killed. She was visiting actress Sharon Tate in the home of Roman Polanski during the time of the Mansion family attacks.
This story has been re-told in many books and Hollywood films throughout the years. While Folgers wasn’t as popular as Maxwell House, in 1964 it was the 2nd most sold coffee brand in the US.
Was Kona Coffee Popular in the 1960s?
Kona coffee is known as one of the best-tasting coffees in the world. In 1969, the Big Island of Hawaii altered the school schedule so students would be free to work during harvest season.
This was renamed the Kona Coffee Vacation, which takes place from August through December. However, the schedule ended up going back to the same break time taken by the rest of the students in the state.
Was Nescafe Popular in the 1960s?
Nescafe was a very popular coffee brand in the 1960s, with 12 % of US households buying this brand in 1964. There were a variety of Nescafe coffees, allowing users to choose one to fit their preferences.
They were also one of the first brands to introduce dry freeze coffee with the Nescafe Gold Blend. Those who like to experiment with their coffee flavors enjoyed the strong Nescafe Blend 37.
Did People Drink Decaf Coffee in the 1960s?
Decaf coffee only had a small market in the 1960s, but towards the end of the decade, more coffee drinkers appreciated the beverage. While the market was very limited at the time, by 1969 there were three types of decaf available:
- Cafe HAG 5S
- Nescafe Decaf
- Symingtons Decaffinated
Hi, I’m Jen Williams, chief editor and writer for ThirstPerk.com.
I’ve been drinking coffee and tea for most of my life, but it wasn’t until I started working at Thirstperk.com that I became an expert on the subject. I’m a total caffeine addict who has spent hours upon hours reading about and experimenting with the different types of coffees out there in my search to find the perfect cup of joe.
I’ve been a tea lover for as long as I can remember as well. I grew up in a house with a mom who loved to drink herbal tea, and I think that’s where my love for tea first began. These days, I’m always on the lookout for new and interesting teas to try, and I love experimenting with different brewing methods and flavoring combinations.
