General Foods International Coffee turned a spoonful of instant coffee into a whole delicious mood (1970s & 80s)

Celebrate the moments of your life See old General Foods International Coffee ads

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Celebrate the moments of your life… 🎶 

General Foods International Coffee was one of those brands that stuck in people’s minds thanks to its unique mix of flavor and feeling. Introduced in the 1970s, these instant coffee mixes came with names like Suisse Mocha, Cafe Vienna and Irish Mocha Mint, and were meant to bring a little bit of European-style coffee culture into American kitchens. The flavors were sweet, the packaging was tidy, and the idea was simple: Make a nice cup of coffee without a lot of effort.

The jingle from the ads was especially sticky. A few bars of “Celebrate the moments of your life” could take you right back to a quiet living room scene, steam rising from a floral mug. The commercials ran through the late ‘70s and into the ‘80s, showing small pauses in the day that felt peaceful and personal. Some featured familiar faces, some highlighted new flavors, but all of them shared that same gentle tone that made this brand hard to forget.

General Foods International Coffees (1974)

Three European coffee flavors arrive in America.

In introducing General Foods International Coffees, we borrowed a few of the best coffee ideas the Europeans ever had.

Cafe au Lait, the smooth, light coffee with a deep French roast flavor.

Suisse Mocha, the chocolate-flavored coffee, whose heartwarming taste takes the chill out of the Alpine air.

And. from Vienna, where a great pastry deserves only great coffee, Cafe Vienna, with a touch of cinnamon the Viennese are so fond of.

These deliciously different coffees are a combination of some of the world’s finest coffees with some of the most interesting flavors.

Just put two spoonfuls in a cup, add boiling water, stir and sip. And you’ll discover the same great coffee flavor you’d find abroad. The flavor of Europe. Let’s drink to it.

General Foods International Coffees. We brought the flavor home.

General Foods International Coffees from 1974

MORE: How about a cup of classic hot chocolate? 15 cozy cocoa recipes


General Foods coffee mix powder – Carol Lawrence (1978)

“As I was saying to Carol Lawrence the other day, ‘I love to relax with a cup of Cafe Vienna and put the world on hold for a little while.'” – Carolyn Ray, Van Nuys, Ca.

[She was namedropping the Broadway actress, seen on the right]

“When things get hectic, it kind of calms me down,” I told Carol.

“The coffee is rich and good. And the added cinnamon flavor is very delicate, very pleasing.

“For a few moments, I just site back and sip my Cafe Vienna and savor it and feel luxurious. Then I’ll go back and solve the problems of the world.

Carol said she relaxes that way, too.

General Foods coffee mix powder from 1978 - Carol Lawrence


Suisse Mocha Cooler (1981)

General Foods International Coffees introduces “ice cream shoppe” coffee

This summer, make “ice cream shoppe” coffee right in your own home. It’s frothy. It’s frosty. It’s fun. And it takes only minutes to make with this quick and easy recipe from general Foods International Coffees: The Suisse Mocha Cooler.

For a refreshing change of pace, make it with Irish Mocha Mint (chocolate with just a hint of mint). A great new way to celebrate the moments of your life.

International coffees - Suisse Mocha Cooler (1981)

MORE: Vintage Breakfast Squares: The sweet frosted bars that General Mills used to make


Irish Mocha Mint (1981)

Celebrate the moments of your life with General Foods International Coffees. Turn a story night into a quiet evening with the after-dinner-mint taste of choclately Irish Mocha Mint.

Vintage General Foods International Coffees Irish Mocha Mint (1981)


The International Coffee Coolers (1982)

Slow sippin’ on a sunny afternoon.

Celebrate the moments of your life with General Foods International Coffees. Cafe Francais – Cafe Vienna – Cappuccino

General Foods International Coffees - Suisse Mocha from 1982


Orange Cappuccino (1982)

Make a new neighbor feel like an old friend with Orange Cappuccino.

General Foods International Coffees - Vintage Orange Cappuccino (1982)



Irish Mocha Mint (1985)

Sugar free – “I didn’t think anything could get me out of the pool… until Dennis brought me a cool Sparkling Cafe. Suddenly I’m in no rush to get back in!”

Irish Mocha Mint (1985) - Vintage General Foods International Coffees


How to civilize 7am: Suisse Mocha (1986)

General Foods International Coffees – Just a little more civilized.

Flavors: Vienna Royale – Orange Cappuccino – Cafe Irish Creme – Suisse Mocha – Cafe Vanilla – Amaretto – Irish Mocha Mist

How to civilize 7am - Suisse Mocha coffee ad (1986)

MORE: How to make a good cup of coffee – Continental style (1903)


Coffee with Lea Thompson, before she was famous

Here’s the actress a few years before Back to the Future!

YouTube video

International flavored coffees you can buy today

Bestseller No. 1
Maxwell House International Cafe Flavored Instant Coffee, Cafe Francais, 7.6 Ounce Canister
  • One 7.6 oz canister of Maxwell House International Café Francais Café-Style Instant Coffee Beverage Mix
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SaleBestseller No. 2
Maxwell House International Vanilla Caramel Latte Café-Style Instant Coffee Beverage Mix, 8.7 oz....
  • One 8.7 oz canister of Maxwell House International Vanilla Caramel Latte Café-Style Instant Coffee Beverage Mix
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  • Our instant Maxwell House coffee mix features decadent vanilla and caramel flavoring that’s good to the last drop
Bestseller No. 3
Maxwell House International Cafe Flavored Instant Coffee, Cafe Francais, 7.6 Ounce Canister (Pack of...
  • The information below is per-pack only
  • MAXWELL HOUSE COFFEE: One 7.6 oz canister of Maxwell House International Café Francais Café-Style Instant Coffee Beverage Mix
  • CAFE STYLE FLAVOR: Maxwell House International Café Francais Café-Style Beverage Mix has a consistently great taste
Bestseller No. 4
Maxwell House International Hazelnut Café-Style Instant Coffee Beverage Mix, 9 oz. Canister
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  • Our instant Maxwell House coffee mix is slightly sweet, with the buttery flavor of toasted hazelnuts that’s good to the last drop
Bestseller No. 5
Maxwell House International Sugar-Free French Vanilla Café-Style Decaf Instant Coffee Beverage Mix,...
  • Maxwell House International Sugar-Free French Vanilla Café-Style Decaf Instant Coffee Beverage Mix, 4.3 oz. Canister
Bestseller No. 6
Maxwell House International Suisse Mocha Café-Style Instant Coffee Beverage Mix, 7.2 oz. Canister
  • One 7.2 oz canister of Maxwell House International Suisse Mocha Café-Style Instant Coffee Beverage Mix
  • Maxwell House International Suisse Mocha Café-Style Beverage Mix has a consistently great taste
  • Our instant Maxwell House coffee mix has a creamy Suisse Mocha flavor that’s good to the last drop
SaleBestseller No. 7
Maxwell House International Suisse Mocha Café-Style Instant Coffee Beverage Mix, 4 ct. Pack, 7.2...
  • 4 ct. pack of 7.2 oz. canisters of Maxwell House International Suisse Mocha Café-Style Instant Coffee Beverage Mix
  • Maxwell House International Suisse Mocha Café-Style Beverage Mix has a consistently great taste
  • Our instant Maxwell House coffee mix has a creamy Suisse Mocha flavor that’s good to the last drop
SaleBestseller No. 8
Maxwell House International Sugar-Free Decaf Suisse Mocha Beverage Mix, 4 oz Tub, 4 Pack, 2 Packages...
  • tubs of Maxwell House International Sugar-Free Decaf Suisse Mocha Beverage Mix, Beverage Mix
  • Simply add to a mug of hot water and stir for a sweet and creamy caf-style drink. Also great as a coffee creamer.
  • Only 30 calories and 2g of fat per serving. Each canister contains 19 servings.

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  1. Years ago you had a recipe Hungarian goulash I seemed to have lost it. I was hoping you still had that recipe and could share it with me?

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