Coffee syrup is a beverage additive typically found in Rhode Island

Rhode Island

The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...

. Made of three ingredients (water and sugar strained through coffee grounds), this syrup is used in other local cuisine such as coffee milk

Coffee milk

Coffee milk is a drink similar to chocolate milk; however, instead of chocolate syrup, coffee syrup is used. It is the official state drink of Rhode Island in the United States of America.-History:...

 and coffee cabinet

Coffee cabinet

A coffee cabinet is an ice cream-based beverage found almost exclusively in Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts. A coffee cabinet consists of coffee ice cream combined with coffee syrup and milk...

s.

Originally produced in the 1930s in corner drug stores, coffee syrup was targeted towards children, while their parents drank hot coffee. Due to the popularity of this product, coffee syrup was bottled and sold by merchants. In 1993 coffee syrup was competing against Del's Lemonade (another local drink) and won the title of official drink of Rhode Island.

History

• 1895: Autocrat coffee syrup was founded by Frank O. Field.
• 1930: Coffee milk was first introduced to Rhode Island.
• 1932: Silmo Packing company, New Bedford, Massachusetts began a version called "coffee syrup" under their company's name.
• 1938: Eclipse of Warwick also made their own version of coffee syrup. They had a slogan to go along with it, "You'll smack your lips if it's Eclipse."
• 1940: Autocrat of Lincoln, Rhode Island began to make a mixture of corn syrup and coffee extract. They also had a slogan which was, "A swallow will tell you."
• 1991: The companies Autocrat and Eclipse were rivalries in the coffee syrup business, but this ended in 1991 when Aurocrat bought out Eclipse. Autocrat bought the brand name and the secret formula. Both of these labels are produced by Autocrat and available to buy in stores.