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When Was Folgers Coffee Inveted?
The story behind one of the most iconic coffee brands in the US
Published February 12, 2022
Susan Rov
Coffee experts@The Coffee Lab
Folgers coffee is an iconic brand making ground, instant, and single-use pod coffee produced in the US and sold in the rest of the world.
Folgers has been the best-selling coffee brand in the United States for many years and the red coffee canisters can be found in most American households.
Even though everyone is familiar with this brand, not many people know the story of how was Folgers coffee invented.
Read this article to uncover the brief story about the beginnings of Folgers coffee, more about how they source the popular beans, and how to make the most favourite drinks with their blends.
The History of Folgers Coffee
The very beginnings of the iconic coffee brand go back to 1850 when William H. Bovee established the predecessor of Folgers Coffee, as The Pioneer Steam Coffee and Spice Mills.
He was one of the first men who had the idea to produce roasted and ground coffee to the public in an effort to simplify the coffee-making process. Before that, people used to buy green coffee beans and then roast and grind them at home.
The founder hired J.A. Folger as a carpenter and through years of hard work and dedication, he earned his place as a partner in the company.
After the Civil War, the business went bankrupt and Folger took the initiative and bought out his partners to become a full owner of the company, which was when J.A. Folger & Co was born.
Behind The Success Of Folgers Coffee
The success of Folger coffee is often attributed to the dedication, integrity and passion of the founder as well as other people behind the business.
J.A. Folger was proactive and was one of the first people to start cup-testing the beans himself to develop a taste standard for his coffee.
He soon realised that some coffees had better aroma and taste, which he deemed more important than the size of the beans. He believed that the best beans are grown at high altitudes in the mountains, which was the start of the Folgers Mountain Grown Coffees.
After he passed away, his son took over the family business and received advice from his late father about the importance of a good company reputation above everything else.
J.A. Folger’s son started working with salesman Frank Atha, the man responsible for the brand’s initial success. Atha used creative store designs and his innovative sales techniques to spread the Folgers coffee in the United States.
During the massive instant coffee boom in the 1950s, Folgers released their own instant coffee in 1953 which was received with disappointment. They then released their second attempt at instant coffee again in 1958 which enjoyed great success.
Today, most Americans know Folgers coffee from their massive marketing campaign with their signature jingle and an iconic slogan: “The best part of waking up is Folgers in your cup!”
More About Folgers Coffee Beans
J.A. Folger was one of the first people who started using taste and aroma as a differentiating factor for coffee in a highly competitive environment.
The cupping quality control was revolutionary at the time, since before, coffee used to be judged solely based on the size of the beans.
At the beginning of the 19th century, coffee was available but was considered a luxury and ground coffee was unheard of on a wholesale level.
This notion was transformed by Folger who brought affordable coffee available for purchase to the public. Their long-lasting success is reflected in the fact that Folgers remained a number one coffee company in the US until 2013 when Keurig took over.
Where Is Folgers Coffee Grown?
Folgers roasts and manufactures their coffee beans in New Orleans, USA but the beans are sourced from all over the world.
The company uses both Arabica and Robusta for their blends with most of the Arabica sourced from Africa and Indonesia and the Robusta from South and Central America.
The primary sources of Folgers coffee beans are high altitude coffee plantations in Nicaragua, Colombia, and Ethiopia, which have the most favourable conditions.
While Folgers claims that their beans are ethically sourced, since they are produced by mega manufacturing companies, the true practices remain questionable.
How To Make Folgers Coffee In A Coffee Machine?
To make coffee in a coffee maker, choose your favourite Folger’s blend and follow this simple process:
- Fill the carafe with cold water, depending on how much coffee you’re making, use around 6 ounces of water for a 1-cup serving.
- Measure your ground coffee, or grind the coffee beans fresh. If you’re making only one serving of coffee, Folgers recommends using 1 tablespoon for a regular cup or 2 tablespoons per serving for a strong coffee.
- Put your ground coffee in a basket with your coffee filter.
- Close the lid and turn on the coffee maker to start brewing.
- Enjoy one of the most iconic coffees in the world.
Folgers Coffee: How To Make It In A French Press?
If you don’t have a coffee machine, you can still enjoy Folgers coffee and make it in your French Press to produce a bold robust-flavoured brew. Here’s how:
- Preheat your plunger with some hot water.
- Measure out 8 tablespoons of Folgers coffee per 24-ounce French Press
- Pour hot water (just off the boil) slowly into your French Press, leaving around 1 inch of space from the top.
- Stir the coffee with a spoon to make sure all the coffee grounds are wet
- Put the plunger back on top, without pressing down and brew the coffee for around 4-5 minutes.
- After you’re finished with brewing, push the plunger down slowly all the way to the bottom.
- Pour the coffee into your cup, add milk, cream or a sweetener to taste, and enjoy.
Folgers Cold Brew
Many people like cold brew coffee because it’s less acidic, easier on the stomach and smoother in taste. You can use Folger’s coffee to make this refreshing beverage.
I would recommend using a medium roast when making cold brew since the longer brewing period will allow the more delicate tasting notes to develop in your final cup.
Here’s how you make cold brew with Folger’s coffee:
- Use 1 cup of ground coffee per 5 cups of cold water.
- Mix the ground coffee with cold water in a large container and leave it a room temperature for 12-24 hours.
- Strain the coffee with a cheesecloth.
- Before serving, fill the cup with ice.
- You can add sweetener, milk or cream of choice, but most people find the cold brew smooth enough to drink by itself.
About the author
Susan Rov
A retired barista who turned into a writer. I love discovering coffee flavors and learning more about the magic bean.
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