The uncle and friend left the business and John and Charles assumed charge. The brothers John and Charles Arbuckle, bought a Burns machine (which was invented in 1864 by Jabez Burns) and began to sell pre-roasted coffee in one-pound paper bags. By 1868, John Arbuckle’s formula for a tasty roasted coffee and his keen business expertise had revolutionized the coffee industry.
A good cup of coffee meant daily roasting until 1868, when Arbuckle perfected a glutinous mixture made of Irish moss, gelatin, isin-glass, white sugar and eggs for preserving the freshness of roast coffee.
During the Civil War, Union soldiers received their coffee allotment in paste form mixed with sugar and cream. Confederates roasted their green coffee beans in kettles and spiders. The Arbuckle Brothers patented a method of sealing in flavor by coating beans with sugar and egg white.
Because Arbuckle’s coffee could be packaged and shipped, it was popular with campers and Westerners.
To persuade consumers to purchase his brand, Arbuckle hired an army of agents to write orders. The coffee was published with colored folksy handbills, trading cards and coupons redeemed for premium.
Arbuckle Brothers became the leading coffee provider to the West by creating fresh, easy to use coffee products with strong brand recognition. The 1873 trademark for the brand that Arbuckle targeted in the West, Ariosa, featured a flying angle.
Toward the end of the century Arbuckle’s included a stick of peppermint candy in each package and in 1893, collector’s trading cards featuring animal, cities of the word, US states and recipes.
In 1937, the General Foods Corporation acquired a number of Arbuckle Brothers brand names, including Yuban, which had been served only to dinner guests by John Arbuckle.
Arbuckle coffee
