One of Service Ideas' most recognizable products is the Original Flip-Top Thermo-Serv® Carafe. Developed back in the 1950s, this classic coffee server came from Art and Marie Murray's desire to leave a lasting impression on their guests by ending each meal with a hot and fresh pot of coffee.
At the time, traditional tableside coffee service involved bringing a single cup of hot coffee to the table and providing refills with a non-insulated glass decanter. The new foam-insulated carafe technology allowed for fresher tasting coffee that stayed hot without heat, improving overall service and shortening wait times.
A Star is Born
In 1958, a new restaurant hit the scenes with an all-day breakfast concept—the International House of Pancakes (a.k.a. iHop). Their world-famous pancakes were commonly accompanied by a fresh cup of brewed coffee so naturally, they needed a serving solution.
Early on, iHop choose the Thermo-Serv as the carafe to set out on each table, an element that would eventually become part of their signature table decore. This is the carafe that was displayed on their tables for almost 30 years until they tried out other various Service Ideas carafes; most recently switching to the vacuum insulated Flow Control Carafe for extended heat retention in 2015.
To this day, the Thermo-Serv Carafe continues to be an iconic style that we associate with diners and breakfast chains.
Becoming an Icon
The Thermo-Serv quickly became a coffee service staple, appearing in just about every diner, restaurant, and hotel in the nation. You can still spot the vintage pot in courtroom dramas and true crime documentaries, as well as lurking in church basements.
Over the decades, it's been available in over 20 colors and patterns. Pastel pinks and blues ruled the 50s and 60s, olive green and almond white entered the scene in the 70s, and the 80s and 90s brought us earthy tones like stoneware brown as well as hallmark patterns of the decade, tortoise and red swirl.
The Legend Continues
Today, we produce four classic colors that have stood the test of time—Black, Copper, Gold, and Metallic Gray—each with a subtle metallic fleck throughout the plastic. They are still made locally in Minnesota and continue to be an excellent choice for many foodservice applications.
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Left: Black and gold Thermo-Serv pots are used as props in the 2020 film, The Trial of the Chicago 7. Right: Some church basement somewhere with a Thermo-Serv hiding in a closet.
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Left: Gold and black vintage Thermo-Serv pot on a coffee shop table. Right: 3 vintage servers, pastel blue and white, pastel pink and black, gold and black.
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Left: Cover image of a Thermo-Serv brochure from 1983. Right: Vintage Tortoise Thermo-Serv® displayed on a boardroom table.
About Service Ideas
Service Ideas is a family-owned and operated manufacturer of food and beverage serviceware. Our company originated over 75 years ago from the need to solve problems in our own restaurant. We understand how important it is for foodservice professionals to serve products that taste and look just as they are intended, which is why we focus on serviceware that enhances presentation while maintaining the integrity of food and beverage. When you partner with Service Ideas, you can expect a focused product line delivered with attentive customer care. How can we serve you?