Oregon coffee pioneer Jim Roberts, the co-founder of the iconic chain Coffee People who is often credited with opening coffee’s first drive-through, died Monday. He was 74.
“There’s a hole in our hearts after yesterday’s passing of Jim Roberts,” Jim & Patty’s Coffee People, the brand that succeeded Coffee People in Portland, announced yesterday on Instagram. “Yeah… that Jim. Buck Tiger himself made Heaven his home and the only thing that can make our loss feel lighter is his continued legacy and the love he left for everyone.”
It was in 1972 that newlyweds Jim and Patty Roberts tasted their first fresh-roasted coffees at Jeff Ferguson’s The Coffee Bean (later to become Coffee Bean International). Roberts then went to work for Ferguson before he and Patty opened their own coffee shop in Portland called The Coffee Man (later to become Coffee People) in 1976.
The Coffee People chain eventually grew to dozens of stores throughout Portland and other cities throughout the U.S., becoming an early challenger to Starbucks while earning legendary status regionally.
“Coffee People was known for its lively atmosphere, chalk-written signs, and collectable travel mugs,” The Oregonian wrote in a 2016 piece on Portland coffee culture. “For many Portlanders, this was the first place they tried lattes, mochas and other espresso drinks. The company’s logos featured a drawing of the owners, along with the slogan ‘Good coffee, no backtalk.”
In 1990, Jim and Patty opened the first Motor Moka location. While the shop has been cited as the first drive-through coffee shop in the U.S., it is described by Jim & Patty’s as “one of the first.” By all accounts, it paved the way for drive-through-focused competitors such as Dutch Bros.
After the conclusion of a five-year non-compete clause, Jim and Patty got back in the coffee game in 2002, opening Jim & Patty’s Coffee People and growing to four locations around Portland.
The owners slid from the top of their game in 1997 when they sold Coffee People to two large chains in 1997 and again in 1998. The final sale was to Starbucks in 2006. The coffee behemoth dismantled all of the Coffee People and Motor Moka locations, save for the final two airport kiosks.
“There’s a hole in our hearts after yesterday’s passing of Jim Roberts,” Jim & Patty’s Coffee People, the brand that succeeded Coffee People in Portland, announced yesterday on Instagram. “Yeah… that Jim. Buck Tiger himself made Heaven his home and the only thing that can make our loss feel lighter is his continued legacy and the love he left for everyone.”
It was in 1972 that newlyweds Jim and Patty Roberts tasted their first fresh-roasted coffees at Jeff Ferguson’s The Coffee Bean (later to become Coffee Bean International). Roberts then went to work for Ferguson before he and Patty opened their own coffee shop in Portland called The Coffee Man (later to become Coffee People) in 1976.
After the conclusion of a five-year non-compete clause, Jim and Patty got back in the coffee game in 2002, opening Jim & Patty’s Coffee People and growing to four locations around Portland.
The Coffee People chain eventually grew to dozens of stores throughout Portland and other cities throughout the U.S., becoming an early challenger to Starbucks while earning legendary status regionally.
Oregon coffee pioneer Jim Roberts, the co-founder of the iconic chain Coffee People who is often credited with opening coffee’s first drive-through, died Monday. He was 74.
“I knew we were in trouble, when after paying $25,000 for this study, we were told that Portland was number 38 on the list of cities where Coffee People could be successful. Vicksburg, Mississippi, was number 37 on the list. If youve ever been to Vicksburg [a rural town with a metro population of less than 50,000 people] youd know that theres something wrong with that. I knew that if that was wrong, the whole thing was probably wrong.”
While I was there, I tried a shot of the Black Tiger. I can only say that those who drink the Black Tiger are far tougher than me. It is about the earthiest (think peat moss in a cup) coffee I have ever had. Most of the Portland cafés cringe at the thought of selling anything with Robusta in it, but not Roberts.
“Everyone thought we owned it, but we didnt. We put our picture on the logo for job security. I figured if our picture was on it, they would have a hard time firing us,” he said with a chuckle. “They didnt object, so there we were, the public face of this company we didnt own.”
The California-based Diedrich did not have much success with Coffee People either. Instead of re-branding the cafés under its own name, Diedrich kept the Coffee People name. However, customers could sense that the cafés were no longer run like the original Coffee People. In 1998, Roberts left Coffee People, saying that that he “no longer recognized the company.”
In addition to the ups and downs that the coffee business has brought them, the Roberts have also dealt with some personal difficulties. One of the Roberts sons, who was a barista at Jim & Patty’s, committed suicide in 2006. As a result they planned to close the shop for a while, since no one felt like working. In an effort to support the family, people from the Beaumont neighborhood came to the Roberts and told them they wanted to run the café for them while they were grieving.
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FAQ
What happened to coffee people?
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What percentage of coffee shops survive?
When was the first drive through coffee shop?
Are UK coffee shops losing sales in 20 years?
The big coffee shop chains have seen sales fall for the first time in 20 years, dropping nearly 40% since the first lockdown in March 2020, according to figures from coffee analyst firm Allegra. The UK’s coffee habit sees us drink around 30 billion cups a year, according to another report, Nescafe’s 2020 Factfile.
Is coffee consumption a problem?
Coffee consumption can be a problem for those with specific medical conditions like irritable bowel syndrome or irritable bowel disorder(IBS or IBD), anxiety, or insomnia. Those who are very sensitive to caffeine cannot consume regular or decaffeinated coffee, which still contains some caffeine. Those with insomnia should try to discontinue all sources of caffeine, including decaf, to see if their sleep improves. Coffee cannot yet be recommended as a means of disease prevention, though both epidemiological and observational studies have suggested an association between coffee consumption and lower risk of type 2 diabetes as well as a reduction in overall cardiovascular events when consuming up to 4 cups daily.
Why is there an off-year in coffee production?
Off-years result from a natural development that occurs as coffee trees become stressed after producing high volumes one season, which leads to decreased production in the following season. 13 In 2021, there was already an off-year in the arabica coffee production cycle—signifying a year of lower global supplies and potentially higher prices.
How many people are in the coffee industry?
This year has not been easy for people in the coffee industry, including 25 million smallholder farmers who are responsible for growing 80% of the world’s coffee. In total, 125 million people depend on coffee for their livelihood, from transporting and roasting the beans to selling the final product.