The Coffee Break: An American Ritual.

Few traditions capture the spirit of American work culture quite like the coffee break—a daily pause that refreshes both body and mind. The practice is said to have begun in the late 19th century in Stoughton, Wisconsin, when the wives of Norwegian immigrants began taking short rests from their work to share coffee and conversation. What began as a local custom evolved into a nationwide ritual, celebrated each year at the Stoughton Coffee Break Festival. By the mid-20th century, the coffee break had become more than just a pause; it was an institution. In 1951, Time magazine reported that “since the war, the coffee break has been written into union contracts,” marking it as a formal part of the American workday.

The cultural momentum continued in 1952, when the Pan-American Coffee Bureau launched a campaign inviting Americans to “give yourself a Coffee-Break—and Get What Coffee Gives to You.” Psychologist John B. Watson, known for shaping modern advertising through behavioral insights, also helped popularize coffee drinking and the very idea of the “coffee break” while working with Maxwell House. Over the decades, this simple act of stepping away with a cup in hand became symbolic of camaraderie, creativity, and renewal. And in New York City, no symbol represents that ritual better than the blue-and-white Anthora paper coffee cup—a design so iconic that it has become synonymous with the city’s bustling rhythm and the daily breaks that keep it moving.

Dedicated to preserving the legacy of the iconic Anthora coffee cup – a true symbol of New York City’s street culture, corner delis, and daily rituals – NY Coffee Cup celebrates its enduring design, cultural significance, and place in coffee history, both in NYC and beyond.