The global coffee company has called South Jersey home since 1964, and its Cherry Hill facility does much more than roast coffee. It’s also helping shape the future of the coffee industry right here in in South Jersey!
Coffee lovers, here’s a little South Jersey hidden gem you might not know about!
Did you know Melitta, one of the most recognizable names in coffee, runs a factory outlet store at its manufacturing facility in Cherry Hill?
Located at 1401 Haddonfield-Berlin Road, the Melitta Factory Outlet lets customers buy fresh coffee beans and other coffee products at competitive prices. It’s a convenient stop for anyone who enjoys a good cup of coffee and wants to shop directly from a company with deep roots in the community.
But there’s much more happening behind the scenes at Melitta’s Cherry Hill facility than you might realize.
A Global Coffee Company With Deep South Jersey Roots
Melitta’s history dates back to 1908, when German entrepreneur Melitta Bentz revolutionized home coffee brewing by inventing the paper coffee filter. Her simple but ingenious idea changed how people brewed coffee, laying the foundation for a company that became an internationally recognized name in coffee products.
Many South Jersey residents might not realize that Melitta has maintained a North American facility in Cherry Hill since 1964.
For more than six decades, the company has been part of South Jersey’s business and manufacturing landscape, producing coffee products while supporting the North American market.
It’s an impressive local connection to a brand with more than a century of coffee-making history.
And many residents have worked there for decades. On a recent visit, SJFS learned that some have worked there 20, 30, and even over 40 years!
More Than Coffee: Inside Melitta’s M-Lab
While Melitta is best known for its coffee filters, brewing equipment, and packaged coffee, the company also helps drive innovation in the coffee industry.
One of its most interesting initiatives is M-Lab, a coffee innovation and development resource that helps businesses bring new coffee concepts to market.
Through its coffee expertise, product development capabilities, and manufacturing resources, Melitta works with businesses looking to create or expand their own coffee programs.
This includes helping coffee and foodservice brands develop coffee blends, explore new products, and bring their ideas from concept to commercialization.
For emerging coffee brands and established businesses alike, having access to Melitta’s industry knowledge and infrastructure can be a valuable advantage.
It’s another example of how a company with such a long history continues to evolve with the modern coffee industry. Read more about the launch of M-Lab here.
While Melitta’s M-Lab isn’t open to the public, if you visit the factory store, you can learn more and get a taste of what’s brewing in there. Coffee blends that have gone through an R&D process in the lab but haven’t been used for any brands are sometimes available in the factory store. These coffees are not available to the general public otherwise.
Melitta Helps Philly Pretzel Factory Develop New Coffee Program
One recent example of Melitta’s innovation work involves another familiar regional brand: Philly Pretzel Factory.
Melitta recently helped Philly Pretzel Factory develop coffee for a new program the pretzel chain plans to roll out across its locations.
The program is currently being piloted at the Cherry Hill Philly Pretzel Factory, alongside a new breakfast menu.
The collaboration brings two recognizable brands together: Melitta’s coffee expertise and Philly Pretzel Factory’s expansion into breakfast offerings.
South Jersey Food Scene recently got a look at the pilot program, which could eventually bring a new morning coffee-and-breakfast option to Philly Pretzel Factory locations beyond Cherry Hill.
A First Look at Another Coffee Brand Coming to the U.S.
Melitta has even more brewing.
South Jersey Food Scene also got an early look and taste of Caffè Corsini, an Italian coffee brand Melitta is preparing to introduce to the U.S. market.
The preview let SJFS experience the coffee ahead of its planned American launch, which is TBD.
Caffè Corsini brings an Italian coffee heritage to the table, and its introduction represents another example of Melitta’s involvement in bringing established international coffee brands to new audiences.
It’s exciting to see these developments happening through a company with such a longstanding presence right here in Cherry Hill.
While the coffee brand is yet not available on store shelves right now, it is available in the Melitta Factory Outlet!
Visit the Melitta Factory Outlet!
Local coffee enthusiasts can visit the factory outlet at the Cherry Hill manufacturing facility to shop for fresh coffee beans and coffee products at competitive prices.
If you enjoy discovering local factory stores and are already a Melitta fan, this is one worth knowing about.
Melitta Factory Outlet
1401 Haddonfield-Berlin Road
Cherry Hill, NJ 08034
Hours: 9:30-2:30 Monday thru Thursday
SJFS Take
It’s easy to overlook businesses that have operated in our backyard for decades, especially when they’re known nationally or internationally.
Melitta has been part of Cherry Hill’s business community since 1964. Yet, many South Jersey residents probably have no idea its North American coffee roasting facility is here, let alone that it has a factory outlet where they can shop.
What makes the story even more interesting is the innovation happening behind the scenes. From helping Philly Pretzel Factory develop its new coffee program to bringing new coffee brands to the American market, Melitta plays an important role in the industry.
And it’s all happening right here in South Jersey.
So, the next time you’re driving along Haddonfield-Berlin Road, remember that there’s a little piece of coffee history, and quite a bit of coffee innovation, happening right in Cherry Hill.
Now you know!
We apprecated the invitation and tour of Melitta’s M-Lab for this story. Special thanks to Melitta North America Innovation and Product Development Manager Dan Pabst and Marketing Manager Lauren Pfeiffer for providing their time and information for us to publish this article.
SJFS is dedicated to food, dining, restaurants, and drinking in South Jersey. Got a news tip? Email southjerseyfoodscene@gmail.com.
