Origins and Evolution of Coffee Houses
Coffee houses originated in the Middle East, where coffee was first grown. The first coffee houses opened in Arabia in the 16th century. Although the concept seems modern, coffee houses have facilitated discussion, business, and coffee consumption for centuries.
Coffee Houses and the Age of Reason
Why was coffee ideal for the Age of Reason? As the preferred drink of scientists, intellectuals, and businessmen, coffee fueled intellectual curiosity, collaboration, and human progress. The discovery of coffee is described in a popular story about a 9th-century Ethiopian goatherd noticing his goats’ energized behavior after eating coffee cherries. At the dawn of the Age of Enlightenment, Europe emerged from an alcoholic haze lasting centuries as coffee’s popularity rose in the mid-17th century for inspiring clarity and conversation.
Coffee Houses During the Enlightenment
During the Enlightenment era, coffee houses became gathering places for intellectuals, artists, writers, and philosophers to exchange ideas and develop new ways of thinking, powering society forward. Coffee’s introduction to Europe catalyzed an intellectual revolution. As coffee spread from Arabia to Europe, it brought curiosity, conversation, and innovation shaping history. Coffee houses also democratized knowledge as people from all walks of life gathered, breaking down barriers and fostering intellectual equality.
In 17th and 18th century England, more than just coffee was exchanged in coffee houses. These public spaces facilitated innovation as people switched from alcohol to coffee, energized with exploding ideas. Although popular, America’s coffee culture transformed after the 1773 Boston Tea Party revolt, when colonists switched from tea to coffee against King George III. Coffee fueled the Age of Reason’s spirit of curiosity, collaboration, and progress.