Released in 1946, this film is a promotional for Chase and Sanborn Coffee which is an American coffee brand established in 1862 in Boston Massachusetts. It shows the process they undertake for choosing coffee beans as well as acquiring the right flavor from the beans. It is presented by the Fleischmann Division (:11), narrated by Hugh James and was produced by B. K. Blake Inc (:27). The film opens by pointing to the more than 50 countries in the tropical zone which grow coffee beans (:37). Footage of natives picking the beans from arabica trees follows (1:32) and these beans will be delivered to the markets of the world. Beginning their journey, the coffee beans are transported by oxen and mules to ships which may carry them as far as thousands of miles away to their destinations (2:00). The Chase and Sanborn roasting plant (2:27) is pictured as one of the coffee beans’ final locations. Samples of each incoming batch here are checked for color, quality and appearance (3:19) and they will then be roasted in miniature lab ovens. These ovens mimic the process of large plant ovens (3:22) which to maintain standards of operations on a grand scale. A technician checks the roast of the beans in the oven (3:46) and each of the samples will be prepared and tested. Each sample is carefully grounded and weighed to ensure they receive identical treatment (4:13). After exact measurements of boiling water is added to each cup, they are tested for aromatic qualities (4:53). The final test is of taste and these technicians were so experienced that they were able to detect even the slightest deviation from standards (5:29). After the sample has been chosen this process must be repeated and translated into millions of pounds of coffee (5:47). The Chase and Sanborn warehouse follows (5:50) with bags of coffee from all over the world (5:50). At the mixer (6:10) coffee is handled on a batch basis and each will be tested again (6:27). The coffee is first cleaned through a winnowing process in an air cleaning machine (6:55) and it is then moved past a large magnet which will pick up any metal pieces which might be in the batch (7:12). A suction fan removes any light dust (7:41). In the roaster room (7:43) the coffee beans are continuously revolved in a drum in order to ensure uniform roasting (7:53). The beans are to never come in direct contact with flames and instead hot air is blown in from the back of the drum (8:02). The operator of the roaster waits for them to turn the proper shade of brown and this is then compared to the sample (8:36). A spray of water is added to the beans to keep them from continuing to cook (8:45) and they are also continuously stirred which aides in a quick cooling process (9:06). Again, the coffee passes over another magnetic to ensure that absolutely no metal parts remain (9:47). High speed mills produce steel cut or granulized coffee (10:00). At the bottom of the grinder, the vibrating screen is pointed to (10:53) which removes any fragments. A lab technician then takes the grinds to the lab to make sure the grinds are to proper size (11:28). The ground coffee is then seen flowing from the granulator into the bins which will take them to the filling machines (12:20). In the packaging department, grinds are either filled into Chase and Sanborn bags (12:44), into vacuum sealed jars (13:09) or into the Chase and Sanborn Fancy Mark bags which were used for hotels and restaurants (13:21). The operators are seen in the assembly line sealing and loading these bags into larger bags for delivery (13:41). Throughout the process, lab technicians take several one-pound bags to be tested again (14:23). The final step is the delivery system (15:01). The film wraps up with a montage of hotel and restaurant guests enjoying the Chase and Sanborn Fancy Mark blend (16:11).

Chase & Sanborn Coffee is an American brand first established in 1862 in Boston by Caleb Chase (1831-1908) and James S. Sanborn (1835-1903). When Standard Brands was formed in 1929, it acquired Chase & Sanborn. The company later became part of Nabisco, Nestle and more recently the Massimo Zanetti Beverage Group (2006).

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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD and 2k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com