Coffee syrup

Coffee syrup is a beverage additive typically found in New England. It is similar in composition to chocolate syrup, however it has a coffee flavor. It is the primary ingredient in coffee milk and coffee cabinets. Coffee syrup was created in the 1930s when corner drug stores began mixing leftover coffee grounds with sugar and milk. It was initially marketed to children, who drank coffee milk while their parents drank hot coffee.

Eventually, the product began to be sold as bottled syrup in grocery stores. In the 1950s and 1960s, Coffee Time syrup was promoted by pop singer Rudy Vallee with the jingle "Anytime is Coffee Time."

The primary brands are Coffee Time, Autocrat (Brand motto: "A swallow will tell you") and Eclipse (Brand motto: "You'll smack your lips / When it's Eclipse"). The Coffee Time brand was owned by Silver Brothers of New Hampshire and was manufactured under license by the Royal Syrup Company of Boston until 1972. Coffee Time and Eclipse are both currently owned by Autocrat Coffee and Syrup Company of Lincoln, Rhode Island.

It all started with the word Autocrat. The founder of this company, Frank O. Field, was reading an essay in The Atlantic Monthly, which was titled "The Autocrat of the Breakfast Table." When seeing the word Autocrat, it drew to his attention. The definition of this word, "A ruler having unlimited power," seemed to fit his coffee. Autocrat produces quality coffees, coffee extracts, and flavored syrups. They are the world's largest and most popular coffee syrup producers. This company has been a fourth generation family business for over 100 years.

Coffee milk was introduced to Rhode Island in the early 1903's. The coffee milk was created by drugstore operators. They were trying to attract new customers with a new creative drink. The way that coffee milk came about was through using sweetened leftover coffee grounds which were mixed with milk and sugar. This created what is called a molasses. After creating this delicious drink, in 1993 it beat Del's Lemonade and won the official drink of Rhode Island.

Coffee syrup is a very easy syrup to make. It only includes three ingredients:

• 1 cup of ground coffee
• 1 cup of sugar
• 3 cups of water

It only takes minutes and is very tasty. To make:

• 1) Boil both the sugar and water together for about five minutes.
• 2) Next, pour the mixture over the ground coffee.
• 3) Let this stand until it cools, and then strain.
• 4) Last, refigerate in a sealed container.

Your coffee syrup is ready when it becomes somewhat thick. It can be used for many different things. For example, coffee milk, milk shakes, ice cream topping, or whatever you may deisre.

Coffee syrup has made it a long way. It has been around for many years and has had an effect on many people. Below is a timeline from when coffee syrup started to where it has ended up.

• 1895: Autocrat coffee syrup was founded by Frank O. Field.
• 1930: Coffee milk was first introduced to Rhode Island.
• 1932: Silmo Packing company, New Bedford, Massachusetts began a version called "coffee syrup" under their company's name.
• 1938: Eclipse of Warwick also made their own version of coffee syrup. They had a slogan to go along with it, "You'll smack your lips if it's Eclipse."
• 1940: Autocrat of Lincoln, Rhode Island began to make a mixture of corn syrup and coffee extract. They also had a slogan which was, "A swallow will tell you."
• 1991: The companies Autocrat and Eclipse were rivalries in the coffee syrup business, but this ended in 1991 when Aurocrat bought out Eclipse. Autocrat bought the brand name and the secret formula. Both of these labels are produced by Autocrat and available to buy in stores.
• 1993: On July 29th, 1993 coffee milk became "The Official State Drink of Rhode Island," throwing Del's Lemonade out of the way.

Coffee milk is still Rhode Island's official drink today in 2009.