- The alleged medicinal effects of coffee were
discovered in the 1600’s. During a time when alcoholism raged
throughout Europe, many professionals agreed that coffee was its cure.
Edward Pococke thought that helped with “consumption, ophthalmia
and dropsy…could cure gout and scurvy and even prevent smallpox!”(Ellis
15).
- The negative aspects of caffeine were also noticed
around the 1600’s. One doctor cited languor, paralysis, heart
attacks, and trembling as risks of consuming large amounts of coffee.
(Ellis 16)
- Coffee houses were also sometimes places of
illicit behavior. Like taverns, some coffee houses provided private
rooms where activities such as prostitution occurred, probably to the
knowledge and perhaps benefit of the owners (Griffiths
93).
- While coffee might be thought of as an intellectual
rather than sexual drink, links to coffee drinking and eroticism are
abundant. Often a couple will begin or end at date at a coffee shop
(Amato). Perhaps the intellectual precursor
to an erotic encounter allows for more anticipatory feelings before
the inevitable outcome?
- Coffee houses provided the starving artist a
place to expose his work or make business contacts. Writers and actors
also benifited from these surroundings because it offered the opportunty
for them to meet people who might help them produce their art. (Hale)
- The London coffee house provided a relaxing
atmosphere that man had not enjoyed in the seventeenth century. People
found comfort in the ability to express ideas freely among members of
their community. The previous era of religious and civil unrest made
this opportunity seem especially relieving and enjoyable. (Boulton
177)
- Coffee houses often required patrons to abide
by a set of rules that kept the atmosphere peaceful. While all coffee
houses had their own set of rules, some might include: the prohibition
of fighting, excessive talking, blasphemy, gambling, or discussion of
sacred issues. (Pelzer)
- In 1673 a pamphlet was published called The
Character of a Coffee house that condemned the activities
that went on at such establishments. It claimed that the coffee was
served out of dirty pots and brewed from the soot left on the bottom
of an old pot. It also looked down upon the diverse groups of people
that mingled inside coffee houses, and the free thought that was allowed
to occur there. (Teverow)
- Stockbroker's usually met at Jonathan's Coffee
House in Change Alley. This eventually became the London Stock Exchange.
(The Roast and Poast Coffee Company)
- King Charles II tries to suppress coffee houses
because he fears they are "hotbeds of revolution". His proclamation
is revoked after the public protests this proclamation and the ban is
lifted after just 11 days (The Roast and
Poast Coffee Company). To see a copy of this proclamation click
here.
- Prussia's Frederick The Great pushed his subjects
to drink beer instead of coffee and said that coffee consumption was
"disgusting" in order to try and block imports of green coffee
in 1775. (The Roast and Poast Coffee Company)
- Women began to gather at coffee houses for "kaffelatsch"
which means "coffee gossip". Historians cite this coffee gossip as
contributing and helping assist female independence. (Harris)
- The tradition of tipping waiters and waitresses
arose in coffee houses. Those that wanted good service and priority
seating would put money in a tin labelled, "To
Insure Prompt Service"--hence,
the term Tips came to be. (The Roast and
Poast Coffee Company)
|