Weekly Wake-up
The history of coffee in Britain
Coffee comes to the UK
In the 17th century, coffee first came to the UK from it’s established roots over in Mocha - Yemen, where the first ships where dedicated to coffee export as a commodity.
Once ashore the UK, coffee was first being used as a medicinal treatment for all kinds of ailments from gout to kidney stones! (outdated and likely wrong medical ideas)
Coffee at this time was even being used by members of different religions like monks and priests, this allowed them to stay up later praying making coffee entwined with religion in certain situations.
Coffee house popularity
Soon after it’s introduction to the UK, coffee houses sprung up all over London creating social spaces for people to enjoy this new energising drink and discuss current matters, this sudden growth of the industry even started to take business away from taverns as socialising was taking place around coffees instead of alcohol.
The crown vs coffee
So the king at the time did try to ban coffee. King Charles the second, back in 1675, announced an outright ban on all coffee houses as it was thought these new social spaces were capable of breading violence against the crown.
The worry of instability was high as King Charles the second had regained the crown after his father, King Charles the first was executed and the monarchy was dissolved by Oliver Cromwell.
Ultimately the ban on coffee houses didn’t even go through as the whole ban was scrapped two days before it was due to be introduced.
I hope you enjoyed this little coffee history lesson, have a great week and some even better coffees!
