The impressive coffee pot collections of Pam and Fleeta

How many remember the old wood cook stoves that were found in nearly every farmhouse kitchen back in the day? And how many remember the granite coffee pot that was usually sitting on the back of it, no doubt holding hot cups of coffee strong enough to raise the hair on a frog?

Always ready to warm a farmer coming in from finishing his chores on a cold winter day, or to offer a cup to a neighbor who might stop by to discuss the latest news. It is likely many problems are solved over a cup of coffee. For the ladies, a chat over a cup of coffee was a welcome break from their daily chores. Perhaps a good time to discuss the pros and cons of their husbands or trade a little neighborhood news. Many generations shared a cup of coffee, a product of the granite coffee pot.

Granite ware, including the granite coffee pots, was introduced in the U.S. in 1870 and remained popular until after the end of WWII. Granite ware began its decline in popularity during the ‘50s when other materials were being introduced into the manufacturing of kitchen wares.

Today granite coffee pots are primarily sought out by collectors. Pam Johnson and Fleeta Lauber are both collectors from Winfield. If their collections were combined, it would total over 300 coffee pots.

Pam Johnson

Meet Pam Johnson, collector of coffee pots. She began collecting granite coffee pots in 1990 and now has a collection of 100, which she displays in her home. Shelves in her kitchen are lined with every color and style of these relics from yesteryear. She said she began collecting them for decorating and found them useful for storing odds and ends. She said she doesn’t recall which coffee pot she started her collection with.

When asked if any of them had a story to share, she said, “I have one that says ‘Poland’ on the bottom and one that still has the label of the store on it, making them unusual,” adding, “Some have goosenecks which makes them a little more uncommon than the ones with just a short spout.”

“No, I’ve never made coffee in them,” said Pam with a chuckle. “These are old enamel coffee pots, like they used in old western movies and TV shows. Not a lot of value in dollar terms.”

“I have coffee pots from Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee and E-Bay,” said Pam of her collections. Ben (her husband) gave her one for Christmas, a friend gave her another, and Pam collected the rest. Pam mentioned she would visit antique stores but has stopped collecting them due to a lack of display space.

“The folks out at the care center tell me the pots do not have insides and to keep the grounds down, they would use a raw egg or ice cubes, so they did not have coffee grounds in their cups!” explained Pam. This was often referred to as “cowboy coffee.”

Thank you, Pam, for sharing your collection with us.

Fleeta Lauber

“I started collecting coffee pots in 1990 after Harry, my late husband, came home from a farm sale with this one,” said Fleeta holding up a small corn flower blue marbled coffee pot. I thought it was cute and so I started keeping an eye out for more.”

Fleeta’s collection took off from there and grew to well over 200 coffee pots, which tastefully decorate nearly every room in her house.

Fleeta uses an old C-clamp that came out of a ship her great-grandfather was on to display some of her collection, making an unusual and eye-catching display.

Fleeta said she and Shirley Hudson, her neighbor down the road, would take an afternoon off to visit antique stores in the area, Fleeta looking for coffee pots and Shirley on the lookout for cut glass.

“There were a lot more antique stores in the area back then,” said Fleeta. She also visited antique shops in Wisconsin and Missouri to find more coffee pots to add to her collection.

The pots come in many colors: orange, red, blue, plain, marbled and speckled.

“I got hooked on making sets of colors,” said Fleeta.

In addition to many colors, Fleeta also has pots in many sizes, from one or two cups to large ones that make 20 or more cups.

“My aunt and two friends shared a large pot and passed it around when they were entertaining,” said Fleeta, who explained that by sharing it they saved both the expense and storage space by sharing.

“I remember when the first thing you would ask a guest is, ‘Would you like a cup of coffee?’” recalled Fleeta, “and coffee was always served at any meeting or social gathering. People just don’t drink coffee like they used to.”

Fleeta, like Pam, has not made nor tasted coffee made in one of her pots. Both were familiar with the term, “cowboy coffee.” Campers may still use that method to make their coffee and it is a familiar staple in old western movies.

Thank you, Fleeta, for sharing your collection with us.

Graniteware manufacturing started in Germany in the 1760s but reached America in the late 1860s. Graniteware, including coffee pots, was widely used for kitchenware until after World War II when new materials led to a decline in its popularity.

A Few Fun Facts about Coffee

Everyday 2.25 billion cps of coffee will be consumed with the U.S. drinking the most. 683% of U.S. citizens drink at least one cup per day.

When consumed in moderation coffee has many health benefits and has been associated with a longer life.

Coffee is the third most popular beverage in the world. Tea and water are the other two.

Cream Puff, the world’s oldest cat, drank coffee with cream every day and lived to be 38 years old.

Brazil is the world’s largest grower of coffee. In 2023 it produced nearly 39% of the world’s coffee.

Smoking makes the body process caffeine up to 50% faster.

Cold coffee can be made by pouring cold water over the ground and letting it steep for 8 to 14 hours, like making sun tea.

Black Ivory Coffee, produced from specially cultivated coffee beans, can cost up to $2,200 per kilogram (2.5 lbs.) making it the world’s most expensive coffee.

Coffee is the second most popular export behind petrol.}

Some companies are attempting to make synthetic coffee.

Instant coffee was invented in the 1950s.

Around the world coffee is seen as a symbol of friendship and goodwill. Whether it is a simple cup shared with a friend at the kitchen table or served as part of a complicated ritual, coffee brings people and countries together by sharing a cup of coffee.

Coffee lovers, be sure to mark September 29 on your calendar. It is National Coffee Day!

Sources of information are:

*Artifact of the Month by Kathleen Moenster

* Cafely “105 facts: history, health, & trivia” from April 10, 2004

*Granite Coffee Boilers from September 30, 1915, posted by Kathleen Moenster

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