Course:History 344 Nasty Families/Cultural Topics/Coffee House

In the 17th and 18th century, coffee houses were social houses, which patrons would converse and interact with one another. It was in these coffee houses that people would discuss an assortment of topics from politics down to fashion. New ideas were tossed around and educational debates were sparked, and the coffee seemed to be a bonus. However, coffee houses had structures and rules. These rules were printed in 1674, the main rule being that equality was supposed to be offered to all men. This meant that no man would have to give up his seat at the coffee house to another man of higher rank. There were other rules that kept order in these establishments. If a patron swore he would have to give up 12 pence, and if there was a fight a coffee would have to be bought by the instigator.

Coffee was first heard about by exotic travels to the empires of Asia. There were rumors of native men consuming a dark liquid, which gave them energy to work all day and even into the night. Daniel Edwards created the first coffee house in London in 1652. Eventually this trend spread throughout London, until there were over 2,000 coffee houses. These coffee houses were an reflection of the middle class that was starting to come out of the wood work. These establishments allowed for safe places to discuss important topics going on in London. A customer could buy one cup of coffee and stay the whole day. However, not everyone liked these coffee houses. Charles II suspended coffee houses because the idea of free flow of ideas intimidated him. Other critics included Christians who saw this as a plot by Islam to poison the world. Eventually, Pope Clem VIII lifted the ban when he had his first taste of coffee and instantly loved it.