Café Bustelo is an American coffee brand owned by The J.M. Smucker Company.
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Product type | Coffee |
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Owner | J.M. Smucker |
Land | U.S. |
Introduced | 1928 | by Gregorio Menendez Bustelo
Website | cafebustelo.com |
History
Gregorio Menendez Bustelo (born June 21, 1894) traveled from his native Spain to Cuba as a young man, and moved to the United States in 1917.[1] He founded the Café Bustelo coffee company in East Harlem, New York in 1928.[2] His product became popular among Cuban exiles who preferred to prepare it in espresso coffeemakers rather than the then-common method of filtering it through a coffee "sock".[3] The company remained successful throughout the 20th century, and was known for its distinctive yellow and red cans.[2]
Café Bustelo was purchased by Rowland Coffee Roasters of Miami in 2000.[2] Rowland was acquired by the Cuban American Souto family the same year, and sold to the J.M. Smucker Company in 2011.[3]
Cultural impact
Bustelo gained a particular cachet among artistic and hipster subcultures in the 1990s and 2000s. It is referenced by name in the song "Today 4 U" from the 1996 musical Rent.[2]
The Bustelo image and logo have also been creatively utilized by multiple artists who use the Bustelo theme in their paintings, prints, etc.[4][5][6][7][8][9][10]
References
- ^ White, J.T. (1969). The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography. p. 346. Retrieved May 4, 2017 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b c d "Café Bustelo History". cafebustelo.com - "About Us". Retrieved March 4, 2023.
- ^ a b Rodriguez, Francisco; Rodriguez, Leonardo; Verdeja, Sam (January 20, 2012). "Entrepreneurs: The Pioneers". In Verdeja, Sam; Martinez, Guillermo (eds.). Cubans, an Epic Journey. Reedy Press. pp. 283–284. ISBN 9781935806202. Retrieved May 4, 2017 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Here Is the Café Bustelo-Inspired Merch You Always Wanted". Remezcla. August 13, 2018. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
- ^ "Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities - Café Bustelo® El Café del Futuro Scholarship to award twenty $5,000 scholarships". www.hacu.net. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
- ^ "Aldo Crusher | Café Bustelo". Rapp|Art. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
- ^ "'Cafe Collabs': The Knocks, Kim Petras, and More at Hot 100". Billboard. September 6, 2018. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
- ^ "Cafe Bustelo Collaboration". Shelbi Nicole Designs. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
- ^ "Aldo Crusher Illustration: Café Bustelo". www.theispot.com. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
- ^ "One Of Miami's Contemporary Art Icons: Stephen Gamson". Miami Art Scene™. Retrieved July 15, 2020.