Folgers Is Being Sued Yet Again Over Its Ground Coffee

If you're like 62% of Americans, you drink at least one cup of coffee a day (via National Coffee Association). Maybe you swear you need the caffeine just to get through a busy workday — or just to get through any day, really. Or maybe you honestly like the taste, especially when you add in a heaping tablespoon of sugar and a hefty dose of creamer. Regardless of why you drink it, there are plenty of ways to get your coffee fix. While you can snag an iced coffee at the Dunkin' drive-thru or order something a bit fancier at Starbucks, you can also brew a solid cup of joe at home.

Of all the coffee brands you'll find at the grocery store, one of the most popular and well-known is surely Folgers. According to Statista, Folgers was the number one ground coffee brand in the United States in 2020, exceeding more than $1 billion in sales. However, the New Orleans-based company recently made headlines for some not-so-great news. One unhappy customer is currently suing the coffee brand. Here's why Folgers is being taken to court.

Customers claim Folgers 'misrepresented' how much coffee is in each can

According to customer complaints, the amount of coffee that your Folgers tub says it makes may not be strictly true. It's gotten to the point where one Missouri man is suing Folgers for "misrepresenting" how many cups of coffee each one of its containers yields (via The Kansas City Star). "It is a classic and unlawful bait-and-switch scheme that causes unsuspecting consumers to spend more money for less than the advertised amount of coffee they believe they are purchasing," he explained. 

The customer argues that on average, a Folgers tub contains enough coffee grounds to make just 68.29% of the servings promised on the package. The suit may not hold up, however. Folgers says its containers produce "up to" that amount of coffee, giving the brand a potentially useful out.

It's not the first time Folgers has faced a similar lawsuit — and it's also not the only company affected. According to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, many major coffee brands, including Maxwell House, Kroger, and Walmart, have previously been sued for the amount (or lack thereof) of ground coffee in their containers.