Six Common Questions About Coffee Answered

You’ve heard the rumors: coffee suppresses desire, makes you refined, or maybe even poisons you. Maybe you’ve wondered why that bitter black drink wakes you up better than anything else—or why some people treat it like a luxury ritual. These aren’t just old wives’ tales; they’re historical ideas that shaped how coffee was accepted, rejected, and eventually loved around the world. Let’s take a hard look at the real story behind six of the most persistent questions about coffee.

Yes, people once believed coffee curbed sexual desire—but modern science confirms coffee wakes you via caffeine, which boosts focus steadily without the crash of alcohol. Its ‘snob’ image started as royal ritual, then became middle-class discipline. And while 18th-century doctors argued over its health effects, today we know more—but not everything.

Did People Really Think Coffee Killed Your Sex Drive?

In early 17th-century England, coffee was rumored to suppress libido—some even claimed it caused impotence. This idea made it oddly popular among monks and those fearing temptation. The first London coffeehouse opened around 1688 despite these fears. At the time, society worried more about being controlled by desire than losing it. Coffee, unlike beer (a staple food delivering calories), was seen as a spiritual, non-nourishing drink that helped sober up drinkers—tying it to values like clarity and self-control.

How Does Coffee Actually Wake You Up?

Coffee’s wakefulness effect comes from caffeine, which stimulates the central nervous system. It sharpens your senses, speeds up environmental awareness, and improves reaction and comprehension. Unlike alcohol’s peak-and-crash effect, caffeine offers a steady, rising mental boost. By the 17th century, as European societies shifted toward skilled, timed labor (akin to machinery), caffeine helped workers stay alert and disciplined—aligning with the Protestant work ethic. It replaced alcohol in social and work settings, marking a shift toward a more ‘awake’ society.

Why Does Coffee Sometimes Seem Pretentious?

Originally, coffee was a luxury for European royalty and nobility—an exotic novelty akin to Chinese porcelain. They didn’t care for its bitterness or functionality; they enjoyed the ceremony. Drinking coffee became a performance of elegance, distancing the act from basic thirst or drunkenness. Wealthy women, excluded from alcohol culture, were also drawn in. Over time, this ritual trickled into middle-class homes, where morning coffee symbolized family order. The ‘royal’ exclusivity faded, but the performative aspects—like expensive gear or precise brewing—remained, making coffee seem ‘snobby’ to newcomers.

Was Coffee Always Considered Healthy?

Early medical opinions on coffee were wildly conflicting. Using the outdated four-humors theory (blood, phlegm, yellow bile, black bile), some claimed coffee was cooling, others warming; some said it thickened blood, others that it calmed bile. No consensus emerged, but by compromise, doctors eventually deemed coffee universally healthful—it supposedly cured all humoral imbalances. In the 18th century, figures like Diderot believed it helped the obese (‘phlegmatic’ types), while others warned of overuse. King Gustav III of Sweden even tested coffee’s toxicity on prisoners (who both survived and gained freedom). Myths of coffee as a cure-all or poison coexisted for centuries.

What’s the Deal with Coffee vs. Chocolate?

In the 18th century, chocolate was another elite drink, often served with multiple servants attending. Unlike coffee, it didn’t aid alertness and was sometimes considered aphrodisiacal. Aristocrats drank it lying down or lounging—a stark contrast to coffee’s upright, work-ready symbolism. Chocolate remained a sweet, non-stimulating luxury, eventually becoming kid-focused. Coffee, meanwhile, spread globally as the go-to stimulant for workers, students, and creatives. Even famous coffee haters (like Goethe) or lovers (like Balzac) highlighted class and lifestyle divides tied to each drink.

How Did Coffee Become Accepted in Europe?

Coffee originated in Ethiopia’s Kaffa region, where monks reportedly used roasted beans to stay awake during prayers. By the 16th century, it was widespread in the Arab world—where it replaced alcohol (forbidden by Islam) and aided long prayer sessions and mathematical work. Arab medical texts even credited Muhammad with using coffee against sleepiness. Europeans first encountered coffee in the 1500s via travelers like German doctor Leonhard Rauwolf, who noted its dark color and digestive claims but didn’t describe taste. Initially seen as foreign and suspicious (its black color reminded some of tar or sin), coffee slowly gained traction among intellectuals, workers, and artists who valued its stimulating effects over tradition.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did coffee really suppress sexual desire in historical Europe?

Yes, in early 17th-century England, many believed coffee reduced libido and could cause impotence. This view made it popular among monks and those avoiding temptation, though the first London coffeehouse still opened around 1688 despite the controversy.

How does caffeine in coffee make you feel awake?

Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system, increasing environmental awareness, reaction speed, and comprehension. Unlike alcohol, it provides a steady, non-crashing mental boost, making it ideal for sustained focus.

Why did coffee become associated with sophistication or snobbery?

Originally a royal novelty in Europe, coffee drinking involved elaborate rituals and expensive servingware. Over time, the middle class adopted these rituals, associating coffee with order, discipline, and social status—even if modern brewing gear now fuels the ‘snob’ image.

Was coffee ever thought to be unhealthy or even poisonous?

Yes, 18th-century doctors debated coffee’s effects wildly. Some claimed it cured all humoral imbalances, while others (like Sweden’s King Gustav III) tested its toxicity. Myths ranged from coffee as a cure-all to a dangerous poison.

What’s the difference between historical coffee and chocolate drinking cultures?

Chocolate was served luxuriously, often with attendants, and was linked to leisure and even aphrodisiac myths. Coffee symbolized work, discipline, and alertness—with drinkers sitting upright and ready for the day.

How did coffee spread from Africa to Europe?

Coffee originated in Ethiopia, where monks used it for wakefulness. By the 1500s, it was common in the Arab world, replacing alcohol and aiding prayer. Europeans first learned of it through travelers in the 1500s, but it took time to overcome suspicions about its foreignness and dark color.

Recommended FrontStreet Coffee for History Fans

Try FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Humbera for a bright, wine-like cup with citrus and floral notes—echoing the vibrant traditions of early coffee rituals. For a deeper, spicy profile reminiscent of Arabian coffee history, their Yirgacheffe offers jasmine and lemon peel brightness. Both single origins highlight coffee’s diverse global journey without any blend complexity. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.