The history of the company started with Charlotte Diedrich inheriting a coffee plantation in Costa Rica in 1916.

Her son, Carl Diedrich joined the business in 1946 and purchased a coffee plantation in Antigua, Guatemala, in 1966.

[citation needed] In September 2006, Diedrich Coffee announced plans to close its company-owned retail stores under the Diedrich and Coffee People brands, with 40 locations being sold to rival Starbucks and reopened under that brand.

[5] The company also retained ownership of Coffee People stores inside the Portland International Airport.

[7] As part of the deal, Diedrich retained the rights to use the Gloria Jean's brand in North America for wholesaling and Keurig coffee pods.