A "Lattè" About Coffeehouses

Coffeehouses are literally my favorite place on this planet. There are times when I spend six hours at a coffeehouse working on homework and drinking coffee. I’m pretty sure most of the people working know my preferred drink, as well as what subjects I am studying.  

But I do not mind if they know more information about me than my own mother; I love the atmosphere and the chill music. I could probably spend days there. In fact, I want my wedding reception to take place at a coffeehouse because that is how much I love the atmosphere.

However, coffeehouses have not always had the atmosphere they have today.  There were times when coffeehouses were the place for Revolution meetings and there were times when women were not allowed to purchase coffee.

But, First We Need To Start In The Beginning.  

Coffeehouses originally started in the Middle East during the 1500’s.  They began as a simple place to enjoy coffee, but as years went on they became something more.

They became a place for political gatherings for Muslims; however, Khair Beg, the Governor of Mecca, feared the influence of coffee and coffeehouses.  He banned coffee because he worried that people were talking about revolting against his reign while they were drinking their coffee.  The sultan (the sovereign of an Islamic country) then released a statement that they believed coffee was sacred and then people did revolt again Khair Beg--he was then executed. 

The idea of a coffeehouse spread from the Middle East to England when Queen Elizabeth I opened English trade to the world.

Pasque Rosee opened the first coffeehouse in England in 1652. It was known as “The Turks Head.” Nearly 10 years later there were over 80 coffeehouses in England.  

In an article from INeedCoffee, a traveler to London in 1668 remarked, “Coffee-Houses, which are very numerous in London, are extremely convenient. You have all manner of news there; you have a good Fire, which you may sit by as long as you please; you have a Dish of Coffee; you meet your Friends for the transaction of Business, and all for a penny, if you don’t care to spend more.”

Men Only Club

In case you couldn’t tell from the comment, English people really liked their coffeehouses. In fact, some men spent so much time there, they had their mail delivered to the coffeehouse. Honestly, if my future husband were to have his mail delivered to the coffeehouse I would have told him to move a bed there as well (but maybe that’s why I am not living in that time period).

But men getting their mail delivered to coffeehouses isn’t even craziest part that happened!

Women were not allowed to purchase coffee at a coffeehouse—only men were allowed.  Obviously, this wouldn’t pass in the year of 2016 because women purchase a lot of coffee today (I tried finding a statistic that proved women drink more coffee than men; however, most research agrees that men drink more coffee than women. Coffeebeansderlivered.com has a great breakdown of men vs. women statistics when it comes to coffee consumption).

The petition against coffee  

However, women in 1674 did not agree with this arrangement, so they published the “Women’s Petition Against Coffee.”   The petition went something like this:

“At these Houses (as at the Springs in Afric) meet all sorts of Animals, whence follows the production of a thousand Monster Opinions and Absurdities; yet for being dangerous to Government, we dare to be their Compurgators, as well knowing them to be too tame and too talkative to make any desperate Politicians:…”

Unfortunately, the petition didn’t get far.  Men kept spending their time at coffeehouses and mail continued to be delivered there rather than the homes of the men.  

The males spent their time at coffeehouses talking about intense political topics.  In fact, it is rumored that some of America’s Founding Fathers began discussing the failures of the monarchy and about the colonies while they were enjoying a good cup of joe at a coffeehouse.

This then got back to the King and one year later, in 1675, King Charles II of England wrote a proclamation to have all coffeehouses shut down.  

Even though the proclamation was overturned, the popularity of coffeehouses began to drastically decline.

But What About America?

To no one’s surprise, the idea of a coffeehouse spread to the United States during the late 1700’s.  Coffeehouses are actually an important part of American history.   

The Merchants Coffeehouse
in Philadelphia 

The Merchant’s Coffee House in Philadelphia was a popular meeting place for George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Marquis de Lafayette, John Adams and more.  

I mean how cool would it be to be a “barista” at that time? It would be like:

            

“Good morning, Mr. Washington! What is on the agenda for today?"

“Oh nothing to major, Kristen.  We are just going to talk about a piece of paper talking about our independence from the King. Could I get a medium Americano?"

“That sounds great! You should call it the Declaration of Independence!”

           

“I think that is an excellent idea, Kristen! We shall call it the Declaration of Independence!”

I think that sounds like a very realistic scenario.

But the Merchants Coffee House isn’t the only coffeehouse with history.  In fact, the Tontine Coffee House in New York is the home of the New York Stock Exchange.  

Tontine Coffee House
in New York 

Tontine was literally a coffeehouse where people bought and sold stocks! It was also a place for

business dealings, discussions and political transactions. It had meeting rooms, auctions and banquets. It was even a place for political demonstrations.

In conclusion 

There is a common theme among the stories of the Middle East, England and the United States. I don't know if you noticed but coffeehouses are a place where people share news, exchange stories, read books, get advice, learn information, make business deals and so much more. In a way, coffeehouses are like a hub for communication. 

By writing this article, I learned something new about myself. 

I originally thought I liked coffeehouses because I love coffee and coffeehouses were a place to get coffee. But the reason why I spend so much time there is because, walking into a coffeehouse takes me away from reality and puts me into a realm of learning and curiosity.  

I will spend hours studying at coffeehouses learning new information. I meet friends at coffeehouses to catch up with their life. I have met my sister at a coffeehouse to talk about life. I have gained advice from a professional mentor while at a coffeehouse.  I listen to new music at coffeehouses. 

I may not change the world, like George Washington, when I go to a coffeehouse but I am changing my world. I always walk away from a coffeehouse accomplished and refreshed with everything new I have learned and finished.

So the next time you are at a coffeehouse, take a look around you and see what people are doing. Because who knows, maybe the person sitting at the table next to you is discussing the future Declaration of Independence.  And let's be real....who wouldn't want to miss out on that conversation?