The Eureka! Joe® Story

Eureka! Joe® founder Richard Gabbard never drank coffee until he was 26 years old...didn't even know how to make it. Then, one day working outside in the cold, he managed to get a cup of c-store swill down. In those early days, hot colored water accompanied sugar and cream. In the spring of 1986 he took a job as a sales rep for a local OCS operator. That first year he was the top salesman, setting up 186 new accounts in the first 8 months.

Miss KY 1999, Heather Renee French, later Miss America, then Mrs. Steve Henry, wife of Lt. Gov. of Kentucky.

Former County Judge Executive Rebecca Jackson at a fundraiser in her honor.

Coffee was now in his blood. He quickly became a manager and learned a lot of what not to do. Rich worked for a few different coffee companies as well as in food service as a supervisor and beverage specialist before starting his own company in 1997.      Rich has always had a good palette for exceptional coffee and learned the arts and passion of the industry.      Although primarily a coffee wholesaler and broker, the dream of delving into the specialty coffee arena kept flirting with him. He kept his finger in the pie for years, always monitoring the progress and internal workings of the industry.

Finally the time was right, with a solid background, a successful wholesale business,...(3 grown children), and a sincere passion to find, brew, and serve the best tasting Outrageously Good Coffee on the planet.      Eureka! Joe® was born (and trademarked) in 1997, although the idea came years earlier while reading a book about the California Gold Rush. Eureka!..."I have found it!", an exclamation of triumphant achievement. Joe,...our trusted American slang for that Outrageously Good beverage.      Thanks for clicking in. Hope you find a blend that excites your taste buds. Keep smiling! Richard Gabbard

Ted Nugent with Ms. Eureka Joe 1999, Jennifer Peacock

Keep smiling and have a great day!

Click Here to return to the main Café at JCTC page!

an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Institution.

If you have problems accessing this page because of a documented disability,
please contact the Access Ability Resource Center .

This site is best viewed with Netscape 7.0 or IE 6.0 or higher and was designed for 800 X 600 resolution.

© 2008, JCTC. All rights reserved.