How Coffee Spread Through Europe and China

You’ve probably heard coffee shops are everywhere—but how did coffee first get to Europe and China? This isn’t about today’s third-wave scene, but the real story: how a controversial drink from the Middle East became the daily habit of millions, starting in the 1500s.

In short: Coffee reached Europe by 1615, thanks to Venetian traders, and became widely accepted after Pope Clement VIII endorsed it around 1600. It arrived in China’s Yunnan province in the early 1900s via French missionaries, but only recently gained popularity.

Coffee Arrives in Europe

By the late 1400s and early 1500s, coffee was already a common drink in the Middle East, though some still saw it as medicine. European diplomats and merchants stationed in the Ottoman Empire reported it as healthy—positive buzz that helped it enter Europe.

German physician and botanist Leonhard Rauwolf wrote about coffee as early as 1582. But the first actual coffee beans were brought to Venice in 1615 by traders.

Europe’s First Coffeehouses

The first known public street coffeehouse in Europe opened in Venice in 1645. Paris and Vienna soon followed, creating two distinct styles: the romantic French café and the intellectual Austrian coffeehouse, both setting long-term trends.

Before powerful Spanish and Portuguese fleets, Venice controlled most trade between Europe and the Middle East—so it’s no surprise the first coffee beans came through there.

From Medicine to Mass Drink

Early coffee was too expensive for casual drinking and was mainly sold to apothecaries. By the late 1600s, it became more common, with street vendors selling it alongside lemon and herbs. It eventually became Italy’s most everyday drink.

Religious Backlash and the Pope’s Verdict

Many conservative Christians called coffee “the devil’s drink” and wanted it banned for Christians. Their argument? Since the Prophet Muhammad had replaced wine with coffee, Christians drinking it might as well be Muslim.

Legend says Pope Clement VIII tried coffee and declared, “This Satan’s drink is so delicious, it would be a pity to let the infidels have it all to themselves. Let’s baptize it instead.” His approval helped coffee gain social acceptance.

Coffeehouse Culture in Venice

By the late 1600s, Venice’s St. Mark’s Square had many coffeehouses. These became meeting spots for everyone from commoners to nobility. One still-open spot, Caffe Florian (founded 1720), became a key info hub before postal services existed—people left letters and messages with the owners to deliver.

Coffee Comes to China

Coffee arrived much later in China. The first successful cultivation was in Taiwan in 1884. On the mainland, French missionaries introduced the first coffee plants to Binchuan County in Yunnan around the early 1900s.

For decades, coffee remained niche. With thousands of years of tea tradition, Chinese consumers often ignored or looked down on this foreign drink. Cultural habits slowed its growth despite suitable climates in many regions.

Coffee’s Slow Start in Mainland China

Traditional lifestyles and tea dominance kept coffee from catching on. Even though parts of China have ideal conditions for growing coffee—similar to parts of Latin America, Indonesia, and India—coffee farming saw little progress until recent decades.

Modern Growth in Chinese Coffee Regions

In recent years, coffee has become more common among Chinese people. Foreign influences and changing habits have helped coffee farming expand. Today, sizable coffee-growing areas exist in Yunnan, Hainan, Guangxi, and Guangdong.

Major global coffee companies like Nestlé, Maxwell House, and Colombia have set up operations in China. They not only sell coffee there but also source beans from local farms, supporting both sales and production.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did coffee first arrive in Europe?

Coffee first reached Europe in 1615, brought by Venetian traders. It was already consumed in the Middle East by the late 1400s and seen as both a beverage and a medicinal drink.

Why was coffee controversial in Christian Europe?

Conservative Christians called coffee "the devil’s drink" and sought to ban it, arguing that since Muslims drank coffee instead of wine, Christians doing so might be adopting Islamic practices. Pope Clement VIII reportedly endorsed coffee around 1600, calling it delicious and helping it gain acceptance.

Where was Europe’s first coffeehouse?

The first known public coffeehouse in Europe opened in Venice in 1645. It was followed by establishments in Paris and Vienna, each developing distinct café cultures—the romantic French style and the intellectual Austrian model.

When and how did coffee come to China?

Coffee was first cultivated successfully in China in Taiwan in 1884. On the mainland, French missionaries introduced coffee plants to Yunnan’s Binchuan County in the early 1900s, but it remained a minor crop for decades due to cultural preferences for tea.

Which Chinese provinces now grow coffee?

Today, coffee is grown in several Chinese provinces including Yunnan, Hainan, Guangxi, and Guangdong. These areas have climates suitable for coffee, and international companies like Nestlé and Maxwell House source beans from local farms.

What was Venice’s role in coffee’s spread?

Venice was the gateway for coffee into Europe because it controlled most trade between Europe and the Middle East before Spain and Portugal developed strong fleets. The first coffee beans entered Europe through Venetian merchants in 1615.

Recommended FrontStreet Coffees for History Buffs

Try FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Humbera for bright floral and citrus notes, a great example of the complex single origins that inspired early European coffee appreciation. For something more classic, their Yirgacheffe offers juicy acidity and berry-like tones. Both highlight the diverse flavours that made coffee so appealing when it first spread across continents. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.