H and H Coffee

Dedicated to the history of the Hoffmann-Hayman Coffee Co. founded 1899 in San Antonio, Texas.

Merchants Coffee Company

San Antonio, Texas coffee firm founded by W. E. Hayman. Merged in February 1912 with William Robert Hoffmann’s coffee business to form the Hoffmann-Hayman Coffee Company. The merger announcement appears in the 4 February 1912 San Antonio Express; the formal charter is the 5/6 February 1912 filing reported in Local Firm Gets Charter.

After the merger, Hayman served as president of the consolidated firm until January 1920, when he sold his interest to the Mengers and exited to start the Tucker Coffee Company.

Open questions

  • Founding year of Merchants Coffee (before 1912)
  • Hayman’s pre-Merchants career (the 1905 Express notice of “H. E. Hayman” arriving in San Antonio may relate)
  • Surviving Merchants Coffee artifacts — any tins, ads, or letterheads from the pre-merger period?

See also