Since the start of the canned coffee products, many coffee brands and coffee houses have also made their canned coffee versions, making their coffee products available to a wider audience. But not all supermarkets do sell canned coffee on their racks, but in Japan, it’s a popular drink with a long history – long enough for a Guinness World Records title.
Recently the longest-selling ready-to-drink canned coffee brand- current has been set by UCC Milk Coffee, which is produced by UCC Ueshima Coffee Co. Ltd has been awarded a certificate from the Guinness World Records for an astounding 49 years on sale.
UCC can coffee started in 1969, and it’s the first can coffee to be sold worldwide.
The story of canned coffee began when Tadao Ueshima, the founder of UCC Ueshima Coffee, had a bitter experience at a railway station.
After buying a cup of coffee in the station kiosk to drink before he boarded his train, Ueshima had to leave most of his drink when the train was signaled to leave after he’d only taken a sip.
Because of that experience, he started to foresee the future of canned coffee, and in 1965 the UCC president, Tadao Ueshima, was appointed by the Japanese government to lead a team sent to observe how coffee was produced in Ethiopia and three other countries in East Africa.
By then Japan started exploring the world of coffee by joining coffee conferences and learning the different types, culture, cultivation, roasting, and taste of coffee.
From that develop canned coffee – a drink that can be stored at room temperature and be taken on the train.
UCC had also gone through the downscale and upscale battle before reaching their success and, has grown to become a long seller, with approximately 15 billion cans sold since its launch.
Even Ueshima Coffee has already rooted and establish their brand for over 49 years in the making the company is still learning different techniques and has been adjusting the flavor slightly to best suit the taste buds of the time.
Upon receiving the Official Certificate, Tatsushi Ueshima, the Chairman of Ueshima Coffee (and the son of Tadao Ueshima), said that the brand survived the test of time because of all the staff.
Since the launch of the world’s first canned coffee, all the staff worked hard together to keep the quality and flavor of UCC Milk Coffee. We would like to continue serving this classic milk coffee taste to as many people as possible.
