The first coffees in the world

Did you know that coffee arrived on the American continent before the seed, and that in 1668, even though the plant hadn't reached Brazil and Martinique, coffee was already being drunk in North America?

The coffee trend in 17th-century Europe spread to cities like New York, Philadelphia, and Boston. Coffee shops opened there, and like those in Arab and European countries, they welcomed all kinds of people, including intellectuals, artists, and merchants. The New York Stock Exchange and Bank began their existence in coffee shops in the area that is now Wall Street.

It is said that the first coffee shop was born in Constantinople, now Istanbul, in 1475. However, it is also argued that these date back to the 13th century, due to a preparation made by the Turks by roasting the beans and mixing them with sugar and spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves; then boiling them. This beverage, which was once prepared and used as medicine, was given the name Turkish coffee. It became so sought-after that coffee houses needed to be opened, the first one opening in Mecca. In these places, people listened to music and talked about religion and politics; they also gambled or simply drank coffee. They soon spread throughout the Eastern world, reaching Constantinople and Damascus. Other versions say they originated in Istanbul in 1550 and quickly spread, becoming meeting places for Turkish men looking for a cup of coffee to chat and escape their daily routine. The sultans tried unsuccessfully to close them, because without them, the taxes paid by these businesses would have been lost. The first cafes are said to have opened in Mecca and were called "kaveh kanes." These cafes quickly spread throughout the Arab world. They were comfortable places with nice sofas where men played chess.

The Venetians brought coffee to Italy in 1615. The first coffee shop opened in Venice in 1683, and in 1720 the famous "Caffe Florian" in St. Mark's Square opened, which is still open to the public today. In Venice, coffee replaced fruit juices and wines. Merchants and intellectuals met in the coffee shops. Women joined them in the evenings.

The first coffee house in England opened in Oxford in 1650. Within two years, there were more than 300, which became men's hangouts, far from the luxurious places of the Middle East. It is said that the coffee craze in London began in 1652, when Pasqua Rosée, the Greek servant of a British merchant, opened London's first coffee house. The café was a resounding success. Charles II's attempts to ban coffee houses were thwarted in 1676 when he was opposed by several ministers who were coffee lovers, as well as by all of London's high society. It was common to see the Royal Society meeting every day in the Grecian Coffee House, headed by the scientist Isaac Newton, as well as the astronomer Edmund Halley. A few years later, 82 coffee houses were opened, and by the beginning of the 18th century, more than 3,000 were operating.

In France, coffee arrived in 1670, first in Versailles and then in Paris, where dozens of cafés quickly became popular. One of the most important, "Le Procope," was founded in 1686 and luxuriously decorated, which still exists today. It was here that a new way of preparing coffee, known as the French press, was invented. Great figures of the time, such as Voltaire and Rousseau, made this place their meeting place to discuss politics, religion, philosophy, and changing the world. Alongside the elite cafés, workers' cafés were established, which were very popular during the French Revolution.

Both models, although different in nature, merged into what is known today as the Parisian café. Other famous French cafés still serving the public include Café de la Paiv, opened in 1862. Oscar Wilde met there with his contemporaries. Today, it is an iconic spot for visitors. Café de la Rotonde, a favorite spot of famous painters since 1901, and Café la Select, operating since the 1920s. Among its most important clients were Hemingway and Picasso. Today, it offers a spacious, elegant, and traditional setting. Café de Flore, the most famous for art and philosophy lovers, opened in 1887. It hosted meetings organized by Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir.

Coffee was introduced to Spain in the mid-8th century by the Italians. The first coffee shop opened in Madrid in 1764 on Atocha Street, La Fonda de San Sebastián, famous for hosting clandestine meetings of liberal activists. The Modernist-style Café de Levante, in Zaragoza, opened in 1896 and is a meeting place for intellectuals. It is still operating, run by the families of the founders, surnamed Blázquez. The Café Els Quatre Gats, in Barcelona, ​​has been operating since 1897 and was frequented by Picasso. It closed in the early 1970s and reopened in 1979. The Café Novelty, in Salamanca, opened in 1905, is remembered for the famous gatherings of Miguel de Unamuno and Ortega y Gasset. One of its tables houses a statue of Gonzalo Torrente Ballester, the renowned Spanish writer and considered this café's most loyal customer. The business closed in 1978, but reopened in 1979, remaining a center of the city's intellectual life. Madrid's Café Comercial, which opened in 1887, is famous for the gatherings of Antonio Machado and Camilo José Cela. It closed in 2015, but reopened in 2017.

In Vienna, coffee shops date back to 1683, when the Blue Bottle opened. Many are still in operation and are considered splendid meeting places serving a wide variety of coffees. Café Sperl, founded in 1880, retains its original interior. Café Central, which opened in 1866 and was frequented by Sigmund Freud, remains a major tourist attraction for its literary past. Patisserie and Café Demel, with over 200 years of tradition, boasts a famous Rococo lounge and delicious cakes and marzipan.

The oldest cafes in Latin America that are still around:

1. El Gran Vicio, in Costa Rica, has been operating since 1880. It's unfurnished; coffee is served at the bar. Famous for its endless conversations.
2. Gran Café Tortoni, in Argentina. Inaugurated in 1858. In which you can breathe pure tango.
3. Café Liberty, in Chile, founded in 1897, retains the bohemian atmosphere of its beginnings.
4. Colombo Confectionery, in Brazil, a cultural and artistic heritage of Rio de Janeiro, founded in 1894.
5. In Bogotá, the first recorded coffee shop in Colombia still serves its customers. Café La Gran Vía, founded on October 11, 1893, is located on the eastern side of the former Camellón de las Nieves, now known as 17th Street. It has also been the home of great intellectuals and artists, and the scene of great debates that arose over a delicious cup of coffee.