# chock full o' nuts **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 22, 2003, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chock-full-o-nuts/170285 "2003-04-22T11:06:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![nineiron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e56c9b/32.png) [@nineiron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nineiron)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2003, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chock-full-o-nuts/170285/1 "2003-04-22T11:06:08Z")
I bought some “Chock Full O’ Nuts” brand coffee today, and I wondered about the name of this brand. I did a few searches, but all I found was the origin of the phrase “Chock Full” (on “The Word Detective” and elsewhere). But I never found out why a coffee brand would mention nuts. Obviously there are no nuts in there, so does anyone know where this name is derived from? (Hmmm…I do know that there was a Wacky Pack version called “Chock Full of Nuts and Bolts,” but that doesn’t help…) 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Early\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Early\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Early_Out)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2003, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chock-full-o-nuts/170285/2 "2003-04-22T11:57:08Z")
Tantalizing… There’s a [web site](http://www.chockfullonuts.com/default.asp) that certainly sounds as if it would be the place to find the answer. After all, if that site doesn’t answer the question, I can’t imagine who could. However, all I get is a “cannot find server” error. Maybe later? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2003, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chock-full-o-nuts/170285/3 "2003-04-22T12:26:40Z")
I always assumed that “nuts” refered to coffee beans. It’s possible that it was a slang term for them. And remember: Chock Full of Nuts is the heavenly coffee Better coffee a millionaire’s money can’t buy. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2003, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chock-full-o-nuts/170285/4 "2003-04-22T12:46:32Z")
Could this be an example where a bean (i.e coffee) is really a nut? ---
**Author:** ![nineiron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e56c9b/32.png) [@nineiron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nineiron)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2003, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chock-full-o-nuts/170285/5 "2003-04-22T13:00:24Z")
I suppose it’s possible (the thing about the coffee bean being a nut), but why would you say that your coffee, which is nothing BUT “nuts,” be “full of” said nuts? Ah, nuts! ---
**Author:** ![LanceUSMC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/0ea827/32.png) [@LanceUSMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LanceUSMC)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2003, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chock-full-o-nuts/170285/6 "2003-04-22T13:04:18Z")
Kind of funny, I just made a pot of coffee and have some other kind of coffee in there, some Columbian coffee. It has what looks like chopped up little brown nuts in there. Does Chock Full o Nuts have this? Is a coffee bean a nut? ---
**Author:** ![hammerbach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/73ab20/32.png) [@hammerbach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hammerbach)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2003, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chock-full-o-nuts/170285/7 "2003-04-22T13:40:54Z")
Here’s a SWAG to get us going: beech nuts? I know ersatz coffe was made with 'em… looks like heavy googling ahead. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2003, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chock-full-o-nuts/170285/8 "2003-04-22T13:42:15Z")
Because it’s got nuts in it. Read the ingredients. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2003, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chock-full-o-nuts/170285/9 "2003-04-22T14:17:15Z")
From the Chock website linked above. > [@](#): > > It all started in New York in 1932 when William Black transformed his nut store, called “Chock full o’Nuts,” into a quick serve coffee shop. My question is, will they change the design of their can to reflect the post 9-11 skyline? The banner they have on their website doesn’t have the twin towers, but the cans still do. ---
**Author:** ![nineiron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e56c9b/32.png) [@nineiron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nineiron)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2003, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chock-full-o-nuts/170285/10 "2003-04-22T19:11:23Z")
Yep, Cheesesteak, my call to the toll-free question line gave the same info (I just got the “cannot find page” message when trying to get the company’s website). Ethilrist: ingredients? There are no ingredients listed. ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2003, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chock-full-o-nuts/170285/11 "2003-04-22T20:18:00Z")
**Cheesesteak** beat me to it; rats. I’ve been a CFo’N drinker for years; it’s terrific. I recently tried a switch to Community Coffee, but it didn’t hold up. I do have a question about the origins story, though: How common were “nut shops” in the 20s and 30s? Did they serve nothing but nuts? That seems like a pretty specialized market, unless people were eating a _lot_ of nuts back then. ---
**Author:** ![ltfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@ltfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ltfire)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chock-full-o-nuts/170285/12 "2003-04-23T00:31:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RealityChuck \* > \*\*I always assumed that “nuts” refered to coffee beans. It’s possible that it was a slang term for them. > > And remember: > > Chock Full of Nuts is the heavenly coffee > Better coffee a millionaire’s money can’t buy. \*\* Originally, the name Rockefeller was used in the song and the Rockerfellers had it removed…used w/o permission, I think.