Coffee milk
TypeFlavored milk
Place of originUnited States
Region or stateNew England
Associated cuisineRhode Island
Main ingredientsMilk, coffee syrup
Similar dishesChocolate milk

Coffee milk is a drink made by mixing coffee syrup or extract with milk, in a manner similar to chocolate milk.[1] Since 1993, it has been the official state drink of the U.S. state of Rhode Island.[2]

History

While the precise origin of coffee milk is unclear, several sources trace it back to the 19th century Italian immigrant population in Providence, Rhode Island. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, approximately 55,000 Italian immigrants traveled to Providence,[3] introducing their traditions and customs to Rhode Island; this included drinking sweetened coffee with milk, which is believed to have led to the creation of coffee milk.[4]

Coffee milk originated in American diners and soda fountains in the early 20th century. The first coffee syrup is thought to have been created by a soda fountain operator who sweetened leftover coffee grounds with milk and sugar to create a syrup, then mixed it into glasses of milk.[3] In the 1930s, coffee milk was regularly served at pharmacy lunch counters, targeted toward children and youth as an alternative to the hot coffee served to their parents.[5]

Due to the popularity of the product, coffee syrup was eventually bottled and sold by merchants. The first mass-produced coffee syrup was introduced by the Silmo Packing Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts in 1932. In 1938, Warwick, Rhode Island-based Eclipse Food Products began heavily promoting its own coffee syrup product, with Lincoln, Rhode Island's Autocrat Coffee coming to market in the 1940s. Autocrat purchased long-time competitor Eclipse in 1991 and today produces both brands of syrup. Autocrat is claimed to be the most popular brand of coffee syrup in Rhode Island.[6] Newer brands such as Dave's Coffee and Morning Glory offer coffee syrups with desired customer qualities, such as no high-fructose corn syrup or artificial colors.

In 1993, the Rhode Island General Assembly opted to change Rhode Island's state drink, with the two potential choices being coffee milk and Del's Lemonade. Coffee milk ultimately triumphed, and was officially named the state drink on July 29, 1993.[5]

Coffee syrup

Bottles of coffee syrup
Prepared coffee milk in a supermarket dairy case
Prepared coffee milk next to coffee syrup

Coffee syrup is a sweetened coffee concentrate and is a key ingredient in coffee milk.

Coffee syrup is produced by straining hot water and sugar through coffee grounds. It can also be prepared by preparing a large amount of hot coffee and then adding sugar to it afterward. A cold-process method for coffee syrup involves soaking pulverized coffee beans for some time and then adding sugar.[5]

Coffee syrup is often brewed at home, in a saucepan using coffee and sugar.

A coffee cabinet is an ice cream-based milkshake-style beverage found almost exclusively in Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts, consisting of coffee ice cream, coffee syrup, and milk.[7]

In December 2013, the Narragansett Brewing Company partnered with Autocrat Coffee to market a limited edition "coffee milk stout".[8][9][10]

In summer 2015, Warwick Ice Cream collaborated with Autocrat to produce coffee milk ice cream.[11]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Coffee milk.

References

  1. ↑ Shahidi, F.; Spanier, A.M.; Ho, C.T.; Braggins, T. (2003). Quality of Fresh and Processed Foods. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology. Springer US. p. 207. ISBN 978-0-306-48071-3. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
  2. ↑ RI.gov. "State of Rhode Island website "Facts and Figures"". Ri.gov. Retrieved 2011-11-28.
  3. 1 2 "Autocrat - A Swallow Will Tell You | Rhode Tour". Rhode Tour. Retrieved 2018-03-29.
  4. ↑ "What's In That Coffee Cabinet? A Delicious Taste Of Rhode Island History". NPR. Retrieved 2018-03-29.
  5. 1 2 3 Lukas, Paul (2002-11-13). "The Big Flavors Of Little Rhode Island". The New York Times. Retrieved 2018-07-23.
  6. ↑ RI.gov. "RIGOV". www.ri.gov. Retrieved 2018-03-29.
  7. ↑ Smith, Peter W. (2003). New England Country Store Cookbook. iUniverse. Retrieved 11 January 2014 from .
  8. ↑ Dzen, Gary (December 3, 2013). "Narragansett announces release of Autocrat Coffee Milk Stout". Boston Globe. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
  9. ↑ Dietsch, Emily. (2013, December 16). Drunk on Gansett Coffee Milk Archived 2013-12-24 at the Wayback Machine. Providence Monthly. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
  10. ↑ (2013, October 18). Narragansett Beer Co. Planning Autocrat Coffee Milk Stout. CBS Boston - Local. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
  11. ↑ Soens, Darren (2015-07-31). "RI companies introduce coffee milk ice cream". WPRI-TV. Retrieved 2018-03-29.

Further reading

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