English coffeehouses in the 17th and 18th centuries
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. Travellers introduced coffee as a beverage to England during the mid-17th century; previously it had been consumed mainly for its supposed medicinal properties. Coffeehouses also served tea and hot chocolate as well as a light meal.
The rules and orders of the coffeehouse
Garraway's Coffee House in Exchange Alley, London
A cartoon from 1787 depicting lawyer Edward Thurlow at Nando's Coffee House
Hogarth's depiction of a fight breaking out in Tom King's Coffee House, in his 1736 painting Four Times of the Day
A coffeehouse, coffee shop, or café is an establishment that primarily serves various types of coffee, espresso, latte, and cappuccino. Some coffeehouses may serve cold drinks, such as iced coffee and iced tea, as well as other non-caffeinated beverages. A coffeehouse may also serve food, such as light snacks, sandwiches, muffins, fruit, or pastries. In continental Europe, some cafés also serve alcoholic beverages. Coffeehouses range from owner-operated small businesses to large multinational corporations. Some coffeehouse chains operate on a franchise business model, with numerous branches across various countries around the world.
The Café de Flore in Paris is one of the oldest coffeehouses in the city. It is celebrated for its famous clientele, which included high-profile writers and philosophers.
A coffeehouse in Cairo, 18th century
A coffeehouse in London, 17th century
A Viennese café