The history of coffee

Did you know that it is believed that coffee was discovered by goats?! After witnessing his goats getting excited after eating some berries from a tree, Kaldi a ninth-century goat herder, mentioned it to the local abbot who suggested they dry and boil the berries to make a beverage. On drinking it the abbots and his monks fond that they were awake for hours, which is perfect for men devoted to prayer!

Fast forward to the 16th century and coffee was now the beverage of choice in many Middle Eastern countries, spreading to the Balkans, Italy and the rest of Europe largely by the Dutch.

Coffee was becoming so popular all over the world that it began a social revolution. With coffee houses popping up all over the place, they were places to go to socialise. Known as ‘schools of the wise’, coffeehouses were complimented by all sorts of entertainment from musical performances, games of chess to dancing and of course gossiping and debating. Coffee drinking and intellectual life were now clearly linked.

It is believed that England’s first coffee house was opened in Oxford in 1650, while London soon followed in 1652. Samuel Pepys wrote in his infamous diary, that he visited a coffee house and ‘found much pleasure in it, through the diversity of company and discourse’ – for Pepys and many other literate men these coffee houses were places to learn of news of the world.

Like many things in the 17th century woman were not allowed in coffee houses but left at home with their chores – sigh! It was a woman named Mary Astell who decided this wasn’t good enough and raised a petition, named The Women’s Petition Against Coffee, claiming that coffee made their husbands forever absent from their home and neglecting their families.

Nowadays coffee shops are incredibly popular all over the world, one of the primary reasons being that they are places that provide a feeling of comfort. At Alchemista coffee we pride ourselves on creating an environment that is calm, friendly, and welcoming, allowing you to relax and reconnect. With our array of coffees, together with our delicious food options and afternoon tea (and let’s not forget our coffee cocktails!) our independent coffee shop in the heart of Norwich is the place to stop and recharge.

5 occasions coffee nearly got banned!

1. Mecca - In 1511 coffee was nearly banned in Mecca as the governor was worried it stimulated ‘hanging out’ and radical thinking.

2. Italy - During the 16th century clergymen wanted coffee to be banned and they believed it was Satanic. However, after Pope Clement VIII tried it, he declared is ‘delicious’ and quipped it should be baptised. After this coffeehouse’s started to spring up all over the place!

3. Constantinople - In 1623 after Murad IV claimed the Ottoman throne, he set up a system of penalties should a person be caught with coffee. The first offence consisted of a beating, the second time they were sewn into a bag and chucked into the Bosporus waters – harsh!

4. Sweden - As well as the coffee drink itself, in 1746 Sweden also banned any coffee paraphernalia. King Gustav III went as far as to order convicted murderers to drink cups of coffee until they died!

5. Prussia - Preferring beer to coffee Frederick the Great of Prussia in 1777 wanted to limit the country’s coffee consumption arguing that beer for breakfast was a much better idea.

Alchemista coffee are proud to be an independent coffee shop sourcing the very best coffee from smaller producers across Asia, South Americas, and Africa.

PS did you know that coffee is actually fruit, the pit of a berry, and that there are two main types of beans – red and green?!  However, at this stage they look and taste nothing like the coffee we know and love. The beans need to be roasted, and it is how they are roasted which defines their taste. Roast quickly at high heat and save some of the brightness and acidity, roast slowly on lower head to lose the acidity and create deeper, more chocolatey flavours.