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About Our Company The 3/A Coffee Co. is owned and
operated by Jeff & Michelle Anspaugh. The company was originally founded in 1934
by Jeff's Great-Grandfather, Joseph F. Anspaugh. The company operated very
successfully in the Shelbyville, Indiana area from 1934 until 1961. The company
was closed in 1961 when Joseph's wife, Lora, became ill. Joseph cared for his
wife until her death in 1964. He never re-opened the coffee company.
In September of 2004, Jeff & Michelle brought back The 3/A Coffee Co. as an
internet hobby. The business quickly grew to be more than a hobby, and today is
a thriving coffee business like The 3/A Coffee Co. of years gone by.
Jeff & Michelle are helped in the family business by their seven
children: Aaron, Alex, Alton, Erin, Aleah, Addie and Joe. Today's 3/A Coffee
family is pictured on the right.
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The 3/A Coffee Co. Story |
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Joseph F. Anspaugh (pictured on the left with wife,
Lora, and children, Kenneth, Irene and Lawrence) was born in 1890 in St. Paul,
Indiana. He married Lora May Jackson in 1909 and started his sales career
selling insurance in Greensburg, Indiana.
In 1910, Joseph's career in the coffee and tea
business began as he was hired by The National Tea Company in Richmond, Indiana.
He later went to work for The Great American Tea Company and was transferred to
Muncie, Indiana to serve as Sales Manager. During this time, he covered a three
state territory and eventually ended up headquartered in Detroit, Michigan as
the Store Manager of the Grand River Avenue store.
From there, Joseph went to work for The Great
Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company and managed their store on Gratiot Avenue in
Detroit, Michigan until the end of 1918. He and Lora then moved back to
Shelbyville, Indiana, where he went to work again for The Great American Tea
Company until 1934. |
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The Beginning |
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In 1934, Joseph organized
The 3/A Coffee Co. with his two sons, Kenneth and Lawrence (the 3-A's or
3-Anspaugh's). The old 3/A store in Shelbyville, Indiana is
pictured on the right.
The 3/A Coffee Co. was a very successful and popular
coffee business in the Shelbyville, Indiana area in the 1930's, 40's and 50's.
Joseph and his sons traveled Shelby County, Indiana, first by horse and
carriage, and later by automobile, delivering their fresh coffees door
to door to their customers. Some Shelby County residents today still remember
"The Coffee Man", Joseph F. Anspaugh, coming to their back door, opening it
(without knocking) and walking into their home and announcing "Coffee Man"! Joseph's coffee horse and carriage and his coffee truck are pictured below.
The original 3/A Coffee Co. operated until 1961 when Joseph's wife, Lora,
became ill. He cared for his wife until her death in 1964. He never re-opened
the coffee company. Joseph F. Anspaugh died in 1981 at the age of 91. When he was 88 years old,
he typed a journal with some of his life experiences. To read Joseph F.
Anspaugh's Journal - Click here!
To view our photo album with Joseph F. Anspaugh's business card, 3/A letterhead, advertisements and
more old photos - Click here!
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Today's 3/A |
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My name is Jeff Anspaugh and I am Joseph F. Anspaugh's
Great-Grandson. In September 2004, my wife, Michelle, and I re-opened The 3/A
Coffee Co. as an internet hobby. Our love for great coffee and our desire to
operate a business based on old-fashioned values has led to a very successful
coffee company.
Today's 3/A Coffee Co. is much different than it was in the
old days, but the basic business principles that were used by Joseph F. Anspaugh
are still used today. He knew then that taking care of his customers was the
best way to have a successful business. We don't deliver our coffees by
horse and carriage like the old days, but we do still personally hand deliver
our products to our Shelby County, Indiana customers free of charge.
Pictured on the left is Joseph F. Anspaugh (owner of the old 3/A Coffee
Co.) holding Great-Grandson Jeff Anspaugh (owner of today's 3/A Coffee Co.).
Also pictured is Lora Anspaugh, Joseph's wife and Jeff's Great-Grandmother. |
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The 3/A Difference |
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We put the "personal touch" back in business by building lasting relationships
with our customers and providing them with excellent customer service. In these times of businesses not paying attention to their customer's needs,
we think you'll find The 3/A Coffee Co. a breath of fresh air!
We invite you to try all of our fresh, delicious 3/A Coffees, as each one has
its own unique characteristics and taste. You won't want to go back to stale,
mass produced grocery store or big coffee chain coffee.
We appreciate your business and ask that you tell your friends and family
about us. If there is anything we can do to make your 3/A Coffee experience
better, please don't hesitate to let us know!
Jeff and Michelle Anspaugh are pictured on the right.
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