Born in San Francisco

Austin and Reuben Hills sailed from New England to California and started roasting coffee on the waterfront. The tradition continues — crafted without compromise.

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The Journey Through Time

Explore continuous coffee roasting perfection, pioneering engineering, and iconic heritage.

1873

Austin Hills Sr. and his sons sail from New England to California

1878

Hills Bros.® Coffee is founded in San Francisco

1881

The company begins roasting coffee commercially

1884

Hills Bros. opens first retail store on Sansome Street

1886

Introduction of the Arabian Coffee brand

1890

Expansion of roasting operations

1898

Hills Bros. begins selling pre-ground coffee

1900

Pioneered vacuum-sealed coffee packaging

1903

Vacuum process patented, revolutionizing the industry

1906

Survived the great San Francisco earthquake

1910

Expanded distribution across the West Coast

1915

Featured at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition

1920

National distribution begins

1921

Red Can becomes iconic brand symbol

1926

Hills Bros. moves to new roasting plant

1930

Became largest coffee company on the Pacific Coast

1935

Introduced High Yield blend

1940

Supported troops during WWII

1942

Supplied coffee to military forces

1946

Post-war expansion resumes

1950

Introduced instant coffee line

1955

Television advertising campaigns launch

1960

Modernized roasting facilities

1965

Expanded to East Coast markets

1970

New product innovations

1975

Introduced decaffeinated varieties

1980

International expansion begins

1985

Acquired by Nestlé corporation

1999

Brand revitalization initiative

2006

Launched single-serve options

2019

Continued commitment to quality coffee

148 Years. Same Commitment.

Crafted without compromise — from the first roast to the last scoop.

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