Today, the idea of a coffee house brings to mind a cozy place that serves gourmet coffee and espresso drinks, with couches to lounge in while you sip. So how did the coffee house get its start? The history of the coffee house begins hundreds of years ago and certainly has changed over the years.
The First Coffee House in Turkey
The first record of a public place serving coffee dates back to 1475. Kiva Han was the name of the first coffee shop. It was located in the Turkish city of Constantinople (now Istanbul).
Turkish coffee was served strong, black and unfiltered, usually brewed in an ibrik. They took coffee very seriously, too. In fact, it was such an important item during that time, that it was legal in Turkey for a woman to divorce her husband if he could not supply her with enough coffee.
Europeans Transform Coffee
The idea of doctoring up one's coffee with cream and sweeteners came into fashion in Europe around 1529. This was also when the first coffee house in Europe was established.
Vienna was invaded by the Turkish army, who left many bags of coffee behind when they fled the city. Franz Georg Kolschitzky claimed the coffee as the spoils of warand opened a coffee house. Apparently, he had lived in Turkey and was the only person who recognized the value in the beans. He introduced the idea of filtering coffee, as well as softening the brew with milk and sugar. The beverage was quite a hit, and when coffee houses also started serving sweet pastries and other confectionery treats, their popularity exploded.
British Coffee Houses
Coffee establishments continued to spread, with the first one opening up in Britain in 1652. Though its popularity was growing in Europe, the idea arrived in England again from Turkey. An English merchant who dealt in Turkish goods (including coffee) had two of his servants leave him, to go into business for themselves. "The Turk's Head" coffee house was born.
It was in an English coffee house that the word "tips" was first used for gratuities. A jar with a sign reading, "To Insure Prompt Service" sat on the counter. You put a coin in the jar to be served quickly.
The British called their coffee houses, "penny universities." That was the price for the coffee and the social upper-class of businessmen were found there. In fact, a small coffee shop run by Edward Lloyd in 1668 was such a business hub. It eventually became the still-operating Lloyd's of London insurance company.
From there, the idea spread further through Europe; Italy in 1654 and then Paris in 1672. Germany embraced the coffee house for the first time in 1673.
The American Coffee House
When America was colonized, the coffee house was quick to follow. The role of the American coffee house was the same as those in England: hotspots for the business community. The Tontine Coffee House (1792) in New York was the original location for the New York Stock Exchangebecause so much business was conducted there.
Espresso Arrives
Up until this time, coffee houses were serving regular coffee. Then came espresso. In 1946, Gaggia invented the commercial piston espresso machine, which was far easier to use and safer than earlier models. The Gaggia coffee bar in Italy was the first location to use these machines and to offer espresso along with regular coffee. The modern age of coffee houses was born.
Modern Coffee Shops
The age-old coffee house should not be confused with the coffee shop of recent decades. Coffee shops are really restaurants that serve a typical menu of diner food, along with basic coffee.
Tim Hortons of Canada is a good example of a popular coffee shop that has somewhat transcended the basic "diner." Though they serve a wide menu of food, they are known across the country for their excellent coffee. Even so, most people wouldn't class them as a coffee house because for quite some time they didn't serve espresso or any espresso-based drinks.
And who could forget the most popular and wide-spread coffee house of them all, Starbucks? They opened their first store in 1971 in Seattle and have taken the world by storm with more than 8,000 locations.
Whether you prefer the wide-spread chainsor the local independent coffee house, you're taking a step into a long history of coffee each time you stop for a latte.
FAQs
Coffeehouses appeared in England in 1652—first in Oxford and then in London. By 1675, England had more than 3,000 coffeehouses. Coffeehouses did equally well in Paris – where they became major meeting places for the French Enlightenment. America's first coffeehouse was established in 1676, in Boston.
What is the history of the coffee house? ›
The first coffeehouses appeared in the Muslim world in the 15th century. The first coffeehouses appeared in Damascus. These Ottoman coffeehouses also appeared in Mecca, in the Arabian Peninsula in the 15th century, then spread to the Ottoman Empire's capital of Istanbul in the 16th century and in Baghdad.
Where did the coffeehouse first emerge? ›
It's hard to imagine, but the coffee shop hasn't always been a fixture in western society. So when did they get their start? The first coffee shop in history was in Constantinople, modern-day Istanbul. In 1475, a shop called Kiva Han opened and sold coffee to the public.
Why were coffee houses important in 1793? ›
The Parisian coffeehouse of the late eighteenth century was fundamental in giving the French populace the public space they needed to gather and foment the ideas that brought about a revolution.
How did coffeehouses contribute to the development of the Enlightenment? ›
During the Enlightenment Period, coffee houses were social centres where individuals gathered to discuss literature, politics, and philosophy. Known as 'penny universities', they fostered intellectual conversation, promoted the exchange of ideas, and contributed to the spread of Enlightenment ideals.
Why was coffee house invented? ›
Coffee houses began in the Ottoman Empire. Since liquor and bars were off-limits to most practicing Muslims, coffeehouses provided an alternative place to gather, socialize and share ideas. Coffee's affordability and egalitarian structure—anyone could come in and order a cup—eroded centuries of social norms.
When did coffee houses become popular? ›
In 1555, a coffeehouse was recorded in Constantinople. They spread throughout the Muslim world, and by the 17th century, coffeehouses were becoming popular in Western Europe. Coffeehouses appeared in England in 1652—first in Oxford and then in London. By 1675, England had more than 3,000 coffeehouses.
What is the social history of the coffee house? ›
Beginning in the middle of the 16th century, coffeehouses became the social meeting place for the people of London. A large part of British culture was shaped there. In coffeehouses the playing field was level, and every man could speak his peace.
What is the oldest coffee house? ›
According to the historians, the earliest record of a coffee house is dated back to 1475. It seems a shop named Kiva Han opened at that time in Istanbul, namely Constantinople, as the city was called then.
Why were coffee houses important in the 1700s? ›
In 17th- and 18th-century England, coffeehouses served as public social places where men would meet for conversation and commerce. For the price of a penny, customers purchased a cup of coffee and admission.
A common theme in the six places where rulers banned coffee drinking was the danger of coffeehouses as meeting places that fostered serious discussions against the king or government.
Who started coffee houses? ›
The first record coffee house in England was opened by a Turkish man by the name of Jacob in the Angel in Oxfordshire in 1652. This was swiftly followed by the first in London in that same year, established by a Greek man by the name of Pasqua Rosee at St Michael's Alley, Cornhill.
What was the first coffee house called? ›
The first record of a public place serving coffee dates back to 1475. Kiva Han was the name of the first coffee shop. It was located in the Turkish city of Constantinople (now Istanbul).
What was the importance of coffeehouses? ›
Although coffeehouses have helped spring innovation in many different forms, they would also often act as a place to discuss relevant issues of the day. In 1870, France was at war and coffeehouses were a popular place to congregate and discuss the war with peers.
What was encouraged in coffee houses? ›
Politics and trade dominated coffee house news. But patrons also wanted gossip, satire, and moralizing tales. Many coffee houses offered newspapers and pamphlets for free with the cost of admission. Some read the news out loud to encourage debate.
How did the coffeehouses affect the development of science? ›
Coffeehouses became places for casual places to discuss scientifically hypothesizes that aren't fully developed and venues for scientific experiments. At coffeehouses one could enter discussions for the price of a coffee. The theory of gravity and several famous books were highly influenced at coffeehouses.
What is the tradition of coffee house? ›
When coffeehouses opened in the 1700's they were places of heated debates and discussions. All topics were up for debate, and famous writers, journalists, and political figures commonly frequented their local coffeehouse. Men were all welcome, while women were banned from most coffeehouses.
Why were coffee houses controversial? ›
A wood cut of a 17th-century London coffee house. But these early coffee houses were not without controversy. Supporters saw coffee as a healthful, non-intoxicating alternative to beer. Detractors condemned it as a dangerous foreign substance, contributing to corruption and even impotence in Englishmen.
What was the first coffeehouse? ›
Coffee is introduced to Constantinople by Ottoman Turks. The world's first coffee shop, Kiva Han, open there in 1475.
