Coffee’s introduction to Europe happened in 1570 upon a return trip from Egypt of a Venetian physician and botanist, Paduan Prospero Alpino. It was initially a hit among the affluent classes and found at pharmacies. Shortly thereafter, coffee shops began opening and its consumption went continent wide.
Vibrant trade began opening up between North African coffee farmers and merchants from Venice. But soon the Dutch, British and French began dipping their hands into the trade, sourcing and exporting beans from places like Indonesia, Sumatra and beyond. Ergo, the European Age of Exploration coincides with coffee’s growing popularity.
Didn’t the Turks First Introduce Coffee to Europe?
But there is some historical discrepancy that tends to be confusing. While most accept that it was Alpino who introduced coffee to Europe in 1570, others insist it was initially a Turkish introduction.
When the Turks invaded Hungary in 1526, they introduced coffee to Europe. Then the Turkish hoards brought it with them to Vienna during the siege of 1529. Later on in the 16th century, the island of Malta gained its introduction via slavery under the Ottoman Empire.
Putting History into Context
It’s important to note that it was at this time that there was a clash between the Christian and Muslim worlds. The Crusades and the Ottoman Empire were not anything polite European society wanted to emulate. Indeed, the Catholic papacy forbade its consumption.
So, when Paduan Alpino brought sacks back from Egypt, it allowed them to accept coffee in a much better light. It was shortly after this re-introduction that the papacy lifted its sanctions against coffee consumption. Because of popularity, this increased trade and thus the credit goes to Alpino of Venice.
When & Where Did the First European Coffee Houses Start Opening?
The moment coffee became a notorious beverage, many cafés and coffee houses opened up by the hundreds across Europe. However, the very first coffee house opened in Venice in 1645. Today, Venice’s oldest, still-standing coffee house is the Florian Café that opened its doors in 1720.
When Did England Have Their First Coffee Shop?
England saw their first café beginning in 1652 at Cornhill, called St. Michael’s Alley. By 1752, over 3,000 cafés operated throughout England with London being home to 300 of them. Most of these places are what people called, “penny universities.” This was because it only cost a single penny to buy a cup of Joe.
When Did Coffee Gain Popularity in France?
In France, coffee was a hit by 1670 among royalty and nobles upon its introduction by an ambassador to Mehmed IV, Sultan of the Ottoman Empire. But it gained widespread common use upon coffee’s introduction through Vienna, Italy.
When Did Germany Have Its First Coffee Shop?
Within four years of coffee’s introduction to Germany in 1675, coffeehouses sprang up in Hanover, Bremen and Hamburg.
When Were Paper Coffee Filters Invented & by Whom?
A housewife in Germany, named Mellitta Bentz, developed paper filtration methods by 1901. These are still a major component for drip machines today. However, Vienna, Austria began playing around with the idea of filtration much earlier than this.
How Did Vienna, Austria Come to Be the Coffee Capital of the World?
While Vienna opened its first café in 1683, they are the ones who began tinkering with filtration. However, coffee’s introduction to Austria began with the Ottoman Empire’s invasion of Vienna that same year.
How Do the Dutch Figure into the History of Coffee in Europe?
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Dutch were notorious globetrotters, exploring new and distant lands. They built relationships with trading partners as far south as South Africa all the way over to India and Asia.
So, they imported and exported the beloved bean while also developing plantations in these faraway lands. In fact, it’s because of Dutch plantations in Indonesia and Sumatra that brought us Kopi Luwak, or Civet Coffee. This is one of the most expensive coffee beans in the world because civets partially digest it prior to harvesting.
What Was Coffee Called in Old Europe?
The word we use today, “coffee” is a metamorphoses of how most Europeans pronounce, “café” but this has its roots in Arabic. Therefore “café” is a manipulation of the original pronunciation of “kahve.” But, many people in Europe also dubbed it “Arabian Wine” at the birth of its popularity.
However, many Christians at the time referred to is as “Satan’s Bitter Drink” or the “Bitter Invention of Satan.”
When Was Coffee Introduced to Spain?
Due to Christian distrust of Muslim marauders, it took Spain the longest to adopt coffee into the culture. Spain, out of most other European countries, dealt with waves of Moorish invasions. It wasn’t until 1764 that the Borbon dynasty allowed the beverage into the country.
However, it’s ironic to note that the first coffee shop that opened in Madrid of that same year came under the proprietorship of Italians.
What Did Europeans Drink for Breakfast Before Coffee?
Before the introduction of coffee into Europe, people would drink water, milk, beer or wine for breakfast. Not surprisingly, once coffee became part of the morning routine, people’s productivity and efficiency improved greatly.
Did Europeans Discover Coffee?
No, Europeans didn’t discover coffee. Coffee’s first discovery was in Ethiopia by a goatherd named Kaldi in the 11th century. Shortly thereafter, other places near the equator began finding coffee plants sprouting up, such as in Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula.
That said, Europeans did perfect the art of brewing, filtration and creating blended drinks with it. For instance, Austria and Germany have their claims to fame with revolutionizing various forms of filtration. Indeed, many Nordic countries are famous for their quality engineering of coffee machines.
Italy and France are kings when it comes to blended coffee drinks, featuring café au lait, cappuccino, espresso, macchiato and latte, among others. Italy in particular pushed the boundaries of what’s possible with coffee through introducing the world to espresso and the Moka Pot.
Hi, I’m Jen Williams, chief editor and writer for ThirstPerk.com.
I’ve been drinking coffee and tea for most of my life, but it wasn’t until I started working at Thirstperk.com that I became an expert on the subject. I’m a total caffeine addict who has spent hours upon hours reading about and experimenting with the different types of coffees out there in my search to find the perfect cup of joe.
I’ve been a tea lover for as long as I can remember as well. I grew up in a house with a mom who loved to drink herbal tea, and I think that’s where my love for tea first began. These days, I’m always on the lookout for new and interesting teas to try, and I love experimenting with different brewing methods and flavoring combinations.