Coffee made its way to Europe in the 17th century, brought by Venetian traders who encountered it in the Ottoman Empire. Initially met with suspicion and labeled as the “bitter invention of Satan,” coffee gained acceptance after Pope Clement VIII reportedly blessed the beverage, deeming it a Christian drink.
The first European coffeehouse opened in Venice in 1645, followed by establishments in England, France, Germany, and the Netherlands. These coffeehouses became popular venues for intellectual discourse and were frequented by artists, writers, and thinkers. In England, coffeehouses were known as “penny universities” because, for the price of a penny, one could gain access to stimulating conversation and news.
