WaterFilter.com

English Coffee

With English Tea being a very familiar term, English coffee may seem as contrary a term as Arctic bananas; however, England's impact on the coffee trade and the world of business is undeniable. The history of English coffee began in 1650 at Oxford University when a Lebanese immigrant opened the first coffeehouse on campus.

Initially, coffee was seen as novelty and a snake oil, if you will, as the proprietor touted many incredible medical claims. His English coffee was said to aid in digestion, cure headaches, coughs, dropsy, gout, scurvy and even prevent miscarriages. About the only claim that was accurate was that English coffee prevented drowsiness.

By 1700, however, coffee had become a very popular beverage and there were more than two thousand coffeehouses in London. Coffeehouses occupied more retail space and paid more rent than any other trade. They came to be known as Penny Universities, because for the price of a cup of coffee, one penny, a person could sit for hours and engage in stimulating conversation with educated people.

Each coffeehouse specialized in a different clientele. In one, physicians could be consulted. Other's catered to lawyers, actors, army officers, or clergy. English coffee became the beverage of business and one coffeehouse in particular grew into one of the worlds largest and most well known companies. Edward Lloyd's coffeehouse catered primarily to seafarers and merchants and he regularly prepared "ships' lists" for underwriters who met there to offer insurance to the ship captains. And so began Lloyd's of London, the famous insurance company.

Prior to the popularity of English coffee, beer, or ale, was the morning beverage of choice among the working class. The pubs and taverns were filled early in the morning with workers who stopped in for a few pints of camaraderie before heading off to the factories and shops around London.

One English writer wrote in 1624, "They flock to the taverns to dizzy their brains and a productionless society is the result." Fifty years later another writer credited English coffee with stimulating the economy as he wrote, "Coffee drinking hath caused a greater sobriety than has ever been seen in the business of London."

By the late 18th century the buzz of English coffee subsided and tea became the preferred British drink, due much in part to the outcry of women, who were excluded from the all-male society of the coffeehouse and complained loudly. A group of angry coffeehouse widows filed a petition with the English government to ban coffee on the grounds that their men were never at home and their duties as husband and father were being neglected. English coffee was not banned but the outcry did have repercussions on the coffeehouse business and men returned to the taverns instead.

© Copyright Randy Wilson, All Rights Reserved.

Randy has more articles on coffee such as Colombian Coffee, Are Coffee Enemas the Real Thing? and Arabica Coffee.

MORE ARTICLES:

Healthy Showing for NAS at HMR Awards
The U.S. Army Medical Department (AMEDD) garnered a "Best In Show" for NAS Recruitment Communications, the human resources communications leader, during the 25th annual Healthcare Advertising Awards presentation.

Five Reasons You Should Get On Track Towards A Healthy Lifestyle Right Now
You might have a vague idea that eating right and exercising regularly are good things, but have difficulty making that leap towards actually doing something about your health. If you need some real, concrete reasons while you must start pursing a healthy lifestyle starting today, just take a look at these completely true benefits of being healthy.

Seven Ways to Save Time Cooking Dinner
Do you have trouble getting dinner finished on time Maybe you just feel that it's all just too much trouble so you stop by the fast food restaurant and pick up dinner on your way home

Amana Appliances | Microwave All Time Favorite Cooking Appliance
Microwave oven is a kitchen appliance that comes in many sizes and styles Microwave oven offers spacious interiors and various cooking options

Coffee - Tastes From Around The World
The world loves coffee, but people show it in different ways When a person walks into a coffee store in the US, the options may initially seem overwhelming

Keukenhof Gardens Dazzle With Bulbs And Concrete Water Fountains
According to the Eastman Kodak Co., the flowers and ornate concrete water fountains at Keukenhof in the Netherlands are the second most photographed place in the world, after the Taj Mahal in Aga, India. Keukenhof's history is almost as colorful as its famous Dutch gardens.

Bosch Appliances | Must Have Appliance-Coffee Maker
Wide ranges of kitchen appliances are available in the market, different models and colors of different brands are available. Buyer can decide according to his needs and requirements which appliance suits his kitchen area and lifestyle the best. A coffeemaker is a kitchen appliance used by many people in our daily life. It is used to brew the coffee without boiling the water in a separate container. Today we can see various types of coffee makers in the market which cater all the needs of the coffee lovers around the world. Depending on the choice of the person as to where he will be using the coffee maker at home, office or business he can select his model. My favorite is Bosch coffee maker. Selecting the right appliance helps the user to ...

Making Communication Effective: 4 Language Filters
Language is a challenging way to communicate. It allows us to share our thoughts and feelings by describing our personal views of reality.

Apartment Property Managers Focus On Water Conversation Through Sub-metering
Water conservation is a growing trend among municipalities, townships and through-out the multi-family apartment industry. In a three year study by the ?National Multiple Family Submetering and Allocation Billing Program?, the potential savings in the apartment sector from requiring residents to pay for their water consumption separately from their rent, found that billing residents for their water usage by direct metering could reduce annual water consumption by an average of 15 percent. This latest research supports the apartment industry?s known fact that people always place greater value on things that they pay for. Not only do residents use less water when they are paying for it, but it also makes them more aware of the importance of i...

Successful Co-Parenting: How to Raise Happy, Healthy Kids with Your Ex
Are you tired of playing joint-custody tug-of-war with your Ex? Would you rather be paying for your kid's needs than paying your custody attorney? Discover the How-Tos of mutual respect with your Ex and co-operation in your shared parenting plans. Find advice that's miles apart from the usual divorced-parent information found in any ordinary shared-custody parenting class. These 5 Steps to Successful Co-parenting give you, your Ex, and your children the support you need most.

Cooking: 3 Ways To Bring Summer Dishes To The Table Year Round
When it comes to summer foods, most people want to look forward to it. Summer food cooking does not have to be limited to the summer months, though. Even during the fall and winter, you can get out that grill and make some great dishes that will feel good and remind you of warmer days of relaxing. Here are three ways to easily bring the memories of summer to the table.

Taste of Crete Participating in Taste of Home Magazine Cooking School
Taste of Crete, a gourmet food company that focuses on the healthy foods of Greece will be one of the exhibitors at The Taste of Home Cooking School being held at Raritan Valley Community College on March 22.

Cooking Mexican Food With Children
There are few things as enjoyable as spending time with your children or grandchildren Whether you are playing tag, hide and seek, or simply watching a kid?s movie for the umpteenth time because it is your grandson?s favorite, both the child and the adult reap the benefits of spending time together

American Elements Combines Nanoparticle, Rare Earths and Bulk Chemical Capabilities in Launch of New AE Water Treatment Group
American Elements announced today the launch of a new product group created through the merger of several technological and manufacturing capabilities under a single sales and technical support team. The new group will operate under the trade name AE Water Treatment™.