Folgers vs. Maxwell House – Which Packs a Stronger Punch?

Folgers ground coffee is a blend of Arabica and Robusta beans. On the other hand, Maxwell House only prepares their ground coffee from Arabica beans, a key difference between these famous coffee companies.

Moreover, Folgers coffee provides a bolder taste and high caffeine, whereas Maxwell House’s coffee is smoother and low in caffeine.

In this post, we will compare both coffee and discover their differences in detail.

Read and learn.

Comparison between Folgers and Maxwell House Coffee

Here is the head-to-head comparison between these two dominating brands in the coffee industry.

THE WINNER

Maxwell House won the debate since their beans’ quality, the roasting process and ground aroma are superior. The company prioritizes the better taste and aroma of coffee. So, they do whatever is needed to satisfy their customers, a great approach compared to Folgers.

Also, Maxwell has a very special roasting process called “The Perfect Roast”, where they ensure accurate temperature and timing to bring out the best flavor possible. Considering such specialties, they are ahead of Folgers.

Product Line/Ground Variations of Both Companies

Folgers and Maxwell House are constantly adding different items to their product lines. We went through both companies’ websites to check out the number of their product variations in present and types. Here is what we found.

Folgers is currently producing 4 types of coffees for consumers, including:

• Ground coffee
• K-cup pods
• Instant coffee
• Single Serve packs

Folger has 47 variations on their grounds, which are sold in unique packaging and quantities. Among all their products, the Classic Roast Instant and Black Silk Dark Roast are the brand’s most popular items.

Maxwell House is now producing 5 types of ground coffee for consumers, including:

• K-cup pods
• Ground coffee
• Cafe style flavor
• Iced coffee
• Instant coffee

We found 203 different types of grounds under these categories that are sold in unique packaging and amounts. Among the huge product list, Maxwell House Master Blend is the most famous item.

Types of Beans and Their Origins

A big secret behind the longer customer retention of both Folgers and Maxwell House is sourcing high-quality coffee beans from particular areas.

Folgers uses a blend of Arabica and Robusta beans in their coffee grounds. Though the company roasts coffee beans and manufactures its products in New Orleans, USA, the beans they use are sourced worldwide.

Folger’s website mentions collecting those beans from Central America, the Caribbean, North America, Asia, and Africa. Along with ensuring the highest quality coffee beans, Folger’s team also secures ethical sourcing practices.

Let’s talk about Maxwell House, the company that produces 100% Arabica beans coffee products. The company’s website says they collect premium-grade Arabica beans cultivated in Brazil, Colombia, and Central America.

Maxwell also ensures sustainable and ethical sourcing of coffee beans. For this purpose, the company collects those beans directly from farmers in the mentioned areas. For establishing a responsible sourcing approach and environment-friendly business, Maxwell House has a special program called “Good to the Last Drop”.

Taste and Aroma of Coffee from Both Brands

Maxwell House and Folgers are popular for their unique characteristics and are praised by different groups of coffee drinkers. Regardless of your tastes, both companies offer a wide range of products for your satisfaction.

Maxwell House is a popular coffee brand because of its smoother, milder taste and more gentle aroma. Any consumer who prefers less robust coffee with a noble flavor profile will definitely go for Maxwell.

Due to the use of 100% Arabica beans, Maxwell coffee grounds come with medium acidity. That’s why it delivers a milder taste after brewing, suitable for most coffee drinkers.

On the other hand, Folger is the favorite brand for powerful coffee drinkers and older generations. Coffee grounds from this brand deliver a stronger mouthfeel and moderately bitter taste.

As the grounds blend Arabica and Robusta beans, coffee from this company naturally contains higher acidity because of Robusta beans. However, the blend also lets you enjoy excellent-tasting coffee on an affordable budget.

Caffeine Level in Coffee Grounds

Folger’s grounds include Robusta beans, whereas Maxwell provides pure Arabica. Due to Robusta beans in the grounds, Folgers coffee has higher caffeine content than Maxwell House on average.

Naturally, Robusta coffee plants produce almost double the amount of caffeine than the Arabica plants. Besides, the caffeine content can increase or decrease during production.

However, the amount of caffeine per serving will vary depending on the product variation. So, the best way to understand the caffeine level of a specific coffee from these brands is to check the packaging.

Which Brand Provides Better Value for the Money?

Folgers and Maxwell House are widely popular brands among coffee enthusiasts. They offer various products at competitive prices. But still, you may find one brand offering better value for the money because of the taste, quality, and availability.

The classic blends from both brands are widely available at reasonable prices. Even if you want premium coffee, both brands also have high-end options that are usually expensive.

So, it is difficult to distinguish which brand offers more value only based on their prices. When comparing Folgers and Maxwell House coffees, you should consider other criteria like their tastes and quality.

For example, if you prefer smoother coffee or want a blend of pure Arabica, Maxwell House provides the most value for the price. In contrast, Folgers is also a reasonable selection if you prefer a bolder taste and are not very concerned about the blend of two different beans.

Folgers or Maxwell House: Which One is More Popular?

Both companies have a history of over 100 years and a huge loyal customer base. However, in the case of popularity, Folgers is a little ahead of Maxwell House.

Folgers has been one of the top-selling coffee brands in the United States for decades. A study by Statista shows that Folgers was the leading coffee brand in the USA in 2020, with a 12%+ market share. The same year, Maxwell House ranked third among top-selling coffee brands.

Folgers has a vast product line, perhaps a big reason for its popularity. Consumers prefer Folgers because they find their desired coffee grounds easily in the Folgers product list. Besides, the brand invests a lot in advertising to build strong brand recognition.

Similarities between Folgers and Maxwell House coffee

Folgers and Maxwell House are not only discussed for their uniqueness but also for many similarities. Some likenesses between these companies are below:

1. Product Variety: Both brands offer more coffee blends and flavors variations. Even they produce similar-grade blends like regular, instant, decaf and flavored coffee.

2. Quality Beans: They have been widely praised for selling fresh, high-quality coffee. Both companies ethically source naturally-grown coffee beans from different countries.

3. Packaging: You will even notice similarities in their packaging. Both brands sell similar items like ground coffee, whole bean, instant coffee and single-serve options like K-Cups.

4. Availability: Consumers can easily find and purchase coffee from both companies in most grocery stores and online shops.

5. Loyal Customer: Folgers and Maxwell House are equally popular coffee brands in the USA with a massive loyal customer base and reputation.

Folgers and Maxwell House: Companies in Brief

Folgers® Coffee:

Folgers® is one of the leading coffee brands in the United States. James Folger founded this company in San Francisco in 1850.

Due to the iconic jingle “The Best Part of Waking Up Is Folgers in Your Cup”, Folgers coffee has been a part of many Americans’ mornings. The brand is also well-known for its ethical bean sourcing and excellent roasting process.

Folgers coffee has many variations that can satisfy any type of consumer. The company blends Arabica and Robusta beans in its grounds, a signature brand approach.

Maxwell House:

Maxwell House is another popular coffee company (owned by Food Giant Kraft Heinz) in the USA, founded in 1892 in Nashville, Tennessee. The brand’s name was inspired by the Maxwell House Hotel, where the founder, Joel Cheek, served his special coffee blend.

In 1917, Maxwell House introduced its slogan “Good to the last drop” to strengthen its brand identity. The brand has been widely praised and respected for its high-quality coffee products and special roasting process.

A uniqueness of the company is – all its coffee grounds are prepared from pure Arabica beans. Maxwell House also has massive product variations, which in unimaginable compared to other brands.

Final Words

Folgers and Maxwell House have been competing to provide you with the highest quality coffee for decades. The choice between the two depends on consumers’ personal preferences. For a strong, bold flavor and higher caffeine content, Folgers is a good option. In contrast, Maxwell House is value for money if you are fond of the smooth and inoffensive taste.

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