From Coffee Tables to Coffee Tins : A Brief History of Collecting Coffee Memorabilia
Coffee tables are a common place piece of home furnishings in almost every established home today. Consumers never stop to think about why we buy them or when did home owners decide it was necessary to use a table for serving and enjoying coffee in the family common room. Obviously coffee furnishings did not come in to vogue until coffee did.
Long before the drink was popular in England and then in the New World it was highly regarded by the Ethiopians and the Muslims. Brought to Europe via Italy and then the East India Company, coffee initially was frowned upon by the church. Although the church prohibited it and in some countries women were banned from coffeehouses eventually coffee became a worldwide recognized beverage of choice for socializing. Along with the need for furniture other items came in to the marketplace for the making and serving of coffee, such as coffee sets, coffee makers and coffee tins.
Coffee tins are one of the prized possessions of collectors of coffee memorabilia, kitchen collectibles and advertising collectibles. There are over 1300 known designs; most chromolithographed. With the phenomenon of coffee houses and coffee shops the collectibility of coffee tins has also risen for businesses as well as home owners.
Packaged tins of already roasted coffees became more popular as the the process became better in the late 1800’s. Still, coffee in tins could not be guaranteed to be fresh because they were not airtight. With the invention of vacuum packaging in 1903 by Hills Brothers. Coffee tins could now be trusted to be air tight and fresh for weeks. By 1920 even Folgers was using vacuum packing and the world was brewing a more convenient cup of coffee.
If you would like to stock your Amish built bookcases, shelves or hutches with your favorite coffee collectible here are a few tips:
Like any collectible, condition is key. Avoid rust, dents, scratches that are more than wear and tear.
- Paper labels that are not written on and intact are desired.
- Unopened cans are more desirable than opened ones but if it is opened be sure you have a matching lid.
- If you can choose then choose the cans with the best graphics. Chromolithographed, graphics with many colors, are more desired than tins with only one or two colors.
- With so many tins to choose from many collectors prefer to focus on one region to fill their custom shelves and cabinets with.
Tags: advertising collectibles, coffe cans, coffee, coffee collectibles, Coffee Tables, coffee tins, Collecting, java, kitchen collectibles
