Do you know what the ‘Wine of Apollo’ is? At one point in history, this phrase was used to describe a strong black drink that created enough stimulation to keep a human being awake during the wee hours of the night. Thus began the ancient tradition of drinking coffee as well as the culture of serving it in specific places that became popular as coffee shops.
It is believed that he was born in the year 1000 AD. C. in the dry and sandy lap that was ancient Arabia, coffee culture has evolved to the point that today it forms one of the mainstays of the contemporary lifestyle where a day without a cup of coffee is simply unimaginable. The story began with Arab farmers roasting and preparing some beans and spending their afternoons drinking the strong broth to enjoy and benefit from its invigorating after effects. Unintentionally, this is how the first coffee shop in the world was born, a culture that soon acquired its own identity and flavor.
From the sands of Arabia, the contagion of cafe culture and its main drink ‘qahuwa’, which means coffee, traveled to Mecca, where it took the form of ‘kaveh kanes’, a gathering place for people to play chess, have debates and dance while drinking. this aromatic drink. Given its viral nature, in a short time it had spread to neighboring Turkey, where the first coffee shop called Kiva Han was established in ancient Constantinople, now known as Istanbul, in 1475. Due to its aromatic magnetism, it immediately conquered Cairo, Egypt, and floated to Europe during the 17th century.
Coffee shop culture took on a whole new flavor on the European continent, echoing an identity distinct enough to have endured through the centuries. What could be better proof of its effectiveness than the fact that some cafés that were established at that time enjoy loyalty and patronage even today? A particularly noteworthy example is the Jamaica Wine House, which opened its doors to eclectic Londoners in 1660 and now functions as a pub, affectionately known as “The Jampot” by its clientele.
Prominent names that were responsible for the proliferation of coffee culture were Café Le Procope in Paris, which was introduced in 1686, and several first-generation coffee houses in London. Lloyds, the world-renowned insurance company, started out as a coffee shop, just like Christie’s and Sotheby’s. The coffee itself was known by various versions of the word ‘coffee’ in different parts of Europe, its etymology a reflection of the country’s traditions.
In England, coffee houses earned the nickname “penny colleges” as anyone could walk in and spend the whole night having a cup of coffee and reading the newspaper, both of which cost two pennies. However, the conversation was very similar to that of the ancient Arabs, and cafes soon became popular venues for political discussion, creative expression, and exposure.
An interesting fact related to the coffee culture at that time was that this place was solely a male domain. Other than the lady responsible for pouring the coffee into the cups, no women were allowed in as part of accepted social norms. But this way of thinking underwent a revolutionary change over the years, and as the coffee culture grew and expanded, it brought into its fold all segments of the population, regardless of age, gender, or anything else. factor.
Then came the era when cafes began to be used as a showcase for local culture and a platform for a myriad of social activities ranging from music and dancing to hosting auctions and the rallying point for stock traders. both aspiring and experienced. The current era is witnessing this tradition coming of age with international chains like Starbucks dominating the ‘roast’.