Coffee houses were integral in addressing people's growing interest in science and philosophy during the Enlightenment. With a newfound enthusiasm for knowledge and the sciences, people looked for places to hang out and talk about their opinions. Coffee houses were the perfect place to do so because of their comfortable, stimulating atmospheres and of course because of the coffee and other hot beverages. They became a social venue for the transmission of knowledge during the Enlightenment. The first coffee houses emerged in London and Oxford in the 1650’s and quickly spread, becoming popular for discussing and exchanging news, ideas, and gossip. They also provided access to newspapers, journals, and books for a small price. Coffee houses were always lively and bursting with scientific zeal.
So why were people attracted to coffee houses instead of another type of gathering place? Why was coffee so popular? Over a period of the scientific revolution and into the Enlightenment the middle class was rising. The middle class was the ideal customer for coffeebecause their work consisted of office work instead of physical labor, and coffee stimulated their senses and kept them awake and working. Another benefit was that coffee was not that expensive, making it easy to go out to coffee shops on a regular basis to discuss science over a few pennies worth of caffeine.
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Very interesting. Double check some of the formatting for the post. As we all get used to entering these blog posts, let's share some tips about making them look nice.
ReplyDeleteHi, Haley! I really enjoyed reading this because coffeehouses are such a normal part of life today that we never think about their origins! "Regular hipsters" made me laugh; the end paragraph was so pretty and full of imagery. It would be fun to restore coffeehouses to their original goals as a place for discussion as I think that would make stronger, more open-minded communities.
ReplyDeleteIt seems to be a trend in the other posts that these things began only serving the very wealthiest and then broadening their market to the middle class. Were coffee houses always a middle class thing or did they extend from the wealthy?
ReplyDeleteGood question Sean. I think this would be an interesting thread to pursue on other topics as well. From my understanding coffee (along with chocolate) began as a luxury item in the homes of wealthy Europeans, especially in the important trading capitals. Families of more moderate means could not afford to buy coffee in bulk, but the industry of coffee houses soon sprang up to provide individual cups of coffee to people who could afford a small dose of luxury. It is also fascinating that these same coffee houses became hot beds of political disent and organization for people like Karl Marx, J. P. Sartre, and many others.
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