The History of Folgers Coffee

One of the most enduring and endearing brands in American history, Folgers Coffee has been serving up great tasting coffee since 1850. While that was the year the company opened for business in San Francisco, the Folgers coffee story goes all the way back to the 1600s, when the Folger family left their home in Norwich, England and sailed for Massachusetts.

Back in 1850, roasted coffee was something of a luxury for anyone living outside of large cities and ground coffee was virtually unheard of. James Folger's skills in carpentry led him to work at the Pioneer Steam Coffee and Spill Mill.

James built a coffee mill for its owner, William Bovee. It was a faithful meeting of two entrepreneurial-minded individuals and would lead to the creation of Folgers Coffee. When the new mill was completed, coffee was the last thing on James' mind. He headed to the hills, ready to stake his claim and find gold.

The gold turned out to be coffee for James, as he returned to San Francisco, becoming a partner with Bovee. The new company was called J.A. Folger & Co. James Folger, the founder of Folgers Coffee, was just 26 years old. The company grew quickly, selling coffees under the Folgers Coffee brand as well as others, depending on the grade of the beans.

One of the hallmarks of Folgers Coffee was the establishment of a taste standard that determined what a good cup of coffee was. Taking over the reins of the company in 1889, James Folger II took Folgers Coffee national, using its bulk roasted coffee to spread the name throughout the country. In the 1900s, Folgers Coffee built new roasting and packaging plants in Texas and Kansas City, the latter which is still operational.

The success of Folgers Coffee over the years eventually attracted the attention of Procter & Gamble, who in early 1963 acquired Folgers Coffee and began to market it nationally under the Folgers coffee brand name.

Today, the term Mountain Grown is synonymous with the Folgers brand. Folgers Coffee came under the guidance of the J.M. Smucker Company in November 2008. Since then, Folgers Coffee became one of the iconic brands of the famed company, which is still operated by the Smucker family. The companys brands include a wide range of roasted whole bean and ground coffees that you can find at Coffee.org. Simply Smooth, a stomach-friendly coffee, flavored and gourmet coffees, instant cappuccinos, coffee pods and single serve packets. Thanks to its continuing innovation, new generations are discovering that, "The best part of waking up is Folgers in your cup!"

Try our wide selection of Folgers filter packs here!

Want to try something new instead? We offer several small-batch, hand-roasted blends from local roasters that keep the spirit of that old-fashioned Folgers love in our modern day!