The Early History of Coffee Houses in England: With Some Account of the First Use of Coffee and a Bibliography of the Subject

by Edward Forbes Robinson

Coffee houses played an important role in the cultural and intellectual history of the seventeenth century. Functioning as venues where people could meet, catch up with news, transact business and discuss issues of mutual concern, they provided a valuable alternative to public the absence of alcohol allowed for more serious conversation. First published in 1893, this illustrated study by Edward Forbes Robinson (fl.1890) explores the history of the English coffee house and its role in seventeenth-century social and political life. Beginning with a history of coffee itself, Robinson examines the religious traditions surrounding the beverage, moving on to discuss its medical uses and the clientele who frequented the establishments that served it. The role of the coffee house as a temperance institution is also considered. With an appendix containing a selection of contemporary texts and descriptions of coffee house tokens, this lively study remains significant to social historians.

Genres: History

276 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1972

Reviews

[Henna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edward Forbes Robinson gives an interesting account of the early history of coffee and coffeehouses in England in the seventeenth century. The origins of coffee chapters were quite thorough and captivating, and Robinson goes through primary sources (mostly pamphlets) expertly. The bibliography is a useful for continued independent research. The chapters about the actual founding, development and fall (as Robinson argues) of the coffeehouses were a bit more dry than others, but still very easy to read.

The only issue I had with this was the lack of secondary sources and how Robinson didn't engage with other academics. Of course it has a lot to do with the publication date (1895) and the nature of history writing in the nineteenth century. I do recommend reading this one alongside of Brian Cowan's work, as both give a nice foundation for the early history of coffeehouses in England; Robinson for the primary sources and Cowan as one of leading academics of history of coffeehouses.