Category: Brand origins

Founded in 1995, Caffe Vita is an independent, locally-owned coffee company that originated in Seattle, Washington. While there are other brands with 'Vita' in the name, this iconic roaster is the one most people refer to when asking about the origin of Vita coffee. The company pioneered the 'Farm Direct' movement, building lasting relationships with growers globally.

In 1899, founder E.A. Stuart needed a memorable brand name for his new evaporated milk, and the answer came not from a farm, but from an unlikely place in downtown Seattle. The story of why is it called Carnation milk is a tale of a fortuitous observation that led to a global food brand.