History of Nescafé
Nescafé, Nestlé's instant coffee brand, was launched in Switzerland on 1 April 1938. Its development began in 1930, when the Brazilian Coffee Institute approached Nestlé to help find a way to preserve surplus coffee beans. Nestlé scientist Max Morgenthaler and his team spent several years developing a soluble coffee powder that kept the flavour of brewed coffee. The name "Nescafé" combines the first letters of Nestlé with "café."
During the Second World War, Nescafé became a staple in the rations of American soldiers because of its convenience and long shelf life. The war helped spread the product to many parts of the world, and after the war Nescafé became a household name across Europe, Asia, and Latin America.
In the decades that followed, Nescafé introduced new products and technologies, including freeze-dried coffee in the 1960s, which was sold as Nescafé Gold Blend in some markets and Taster's Choice in the United States. The brand also expanded into ready-to-drink coffee, coffee mixes, and, in 2006, the Nescafé Dolce Gusto capsule system.
Today, Nescafé is one of the most widely sold coffee brands in the world and a central part of Nestlé's beverage business. Through programmes such as the Nescafé Plan, launched in 2010, Nestlé sources large volumes of coffee directly from farmers in producing countries while continuing to expand the brand's instant, capsule, and ready-to-drink ranges.