Coffee 70s and 80s to Today

As a Kid…

Of the 1970s and living in New Jersey everyone in my family lived on coffee. We had to set the coffee pot before bed, and the smell would wake you up way before the alarm would. My dad was a teamster so he was the first to get up at 5 am so he could make the train from Maplewood to Newark.

Then my mom would get up and get her coffee then my Uncle would come out of his room get coffee and they would be on their way to work an take me and my sister to school.

All I could remember was that amazing smell of coffee it was heavenly it really was. I could not wait to be old enough to be able to drink it, now would my dad and uncle give me a sip on the side ? yea they would but it was always don’t tell your mom lol.

Then in my teenage years I was 15 I believe I woke up one morning and boom had a cup and my mom just looked at me and said well where’s my cup heh heh. Ok ok I get it. Now there was a few time where the coffee pot wasn’t set and well I had to get to school so a can of Jolt or Coke had to make do. Hey I was a teenager I needed my caffeine one way of the other ya know.

Now there was your basic coffees you know Maxwell House, Folgers, Tasters Choice, and International Coffee’s to name a few. And your basic condiments. Milk, Cream or Half and Half. There was no Hazelnut or Pumpkin Spice, flavored coffee was really a specialty and could only be bought at the local supermarket.

There were no special places to get any special coffee at least not in New Jersey. You have your regular Diners and Luncheonettes if you had 50 cents you had a cup of coffee plain and simple. Even the local Roach Coaches there is your coffee milk and sugar that was it.

There were no tumblers if you wanted to take your coffee with you to work or wherever. You put it in a thermos it held a pot of coffee and the plastic cap doubled as your coffee cup. But be prepared to drink it black or take some milk and sugar from the break room at work. My Dad used to save the little creamers and sugar packets from when he used to eat at the diners.

He would bring some home for me because he knew I loved drinking those little creamers they were sooo tasty heh heh.

I just can’t believe on how much the coffee industry has boomed in the last 25 years. There are so many coffees out there, now you have these special syrups and creamers. I would have never thought there would be an Oreo Cookie creamer or a Peppermint one. And I have no idea where baristas came from, I wanna say they just appeared outta no where.

Coffee used to be so simple you walk in say gimme whatever size you want milk cream or sugar and pay your dollar in some cases and you are off. Now you can get designs on them or one pump of whatever you want. I can literally take 5 min to get your special brew.

They literally turned it into a billion dollar industry and it just seems to keep growing. 30 years ago if you were to tell me that coffee was going to be 5 to 7 bucks an order I would laugh in your face literally. Sure can go to your local WAWA and get a large for like $1.80 but you want a triple maraschino you are paying at least 5 buck for it. Hell at one place The Brooklyn Bagel Water Co I paid $4.50 for an Iced Coffee now I have not been back but still.

And yes I always get the if you do not like it don’t buy it , and trust me that is why I do coffee reviews. A lot gets sent to us and oh yes a lot we agree is good you see our reviews on a lot of them. Me myself personalty is going to keep it simple I just need good taste a lot of caffeine and I am good.

You can hold the Almond Soy milk and your Venti’s .