Famous Figures and Their Love (or Hate) for Coffee

Ever wondered how your favorite historical geniuses took their coffee—or if they drank it at all? From German composers to French emperors, many iconic figures throughout history had strong, sometimes strange, relationships with coffee. Some credited it for their brilliance, while others tried to outlaw it entirely. This article reveals the surprising ways coffee influenced (and was rejected by) the great minds of the past.

Over a dozen notable figures—including composers, writers, philosophers, and kings—are known for either loving coffee or attempting to ban it. For example, French writer Balzac drank up to 50 cups a day, while King Gustav III of Sweden tried to outlaw it completely. Their stories reveal just how deeply coffee has shaped cultural and intellectual life.

The Creative Fuel: Writers and Philosophers

Many renowned thinkers and authors turned to coffee for inspiration. French writer Honoré de Balzac famously consumed vast quantities of coffee, believing it fueled his creativity. He worked through the night, drinking coffee nonstop while writing for 12-hour stretches. "Once coffee enters the stomach," he said, "the mind stirs, thoughts align, and it feels like an army preparing for battle."

Similarly, German philosopher Immanuel Kant didn’t care much for coffee in his youth but developed a strong attachment later in life. And the French Enlightenment thinker Voltaire reportedly drank around 50 cups of coffee daily—surviving to age 84 despite claims it was poison. His longevity was proof, he joked, that coffee wasn’t killing him.

Royal Coffee Drinkers and Makers

Coffee wasn’t just for thinkers—it was also a royal obsession. French Emperor Napoleon described coffee’s effect as giving him "unusual warmth and strength," calling it essential to his day. British General Ulysses S. Grant made strong coffee part of his breakfast routine, drinking it alongside vinegar and cucumbers.

Even royalty got involved. King Frederick II of Prussia drank his coffee mixed with champagne instead of water. And King Louis XV of France not only loved coffee but grew his own trees in the palace gardens, harvesting six pounds of beans each year for his personal use.

Controversy and Coffee Bans

Not everyone celebrated coffee. In 1524, a Mecca religious judge banned coffeehouses to prevent unrest. Later, in 1570, the Ottoman Sultan Murad III equated coffee with alcohol and shut down Constantinople’s coffee shops. Even in 18th-century Switzerland, King Gustav III viewed coffee as a drug and tried to prohibit it, continuing the ban well into the 19th century.

King Frederick the Great of Prussia also disliked coffee, seeing it as a social ill. His attempts to restrict coffee drinking reflected broader anxieties about its stimulating effects and social influence.

Quirky Coffee Quotes and Customs

French diplomat Talleyrand had perhaps the most poetic coffee philosophy: "The perfect cup should be black as the devil, hot as hell, pure as an angel, and sweet as love." And composer Johann Sebastian Bach, despite being a coffee lover himself, wrote a comic opera called The Coffee Cantata—about a father trying to get his daughter to quit coffee.

These anecdotes highlight how coffee inspired humor, philosophy, and even drama among some of history’s most influential people.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Voltaire really drink 50 cups of coffee a day?

Yes, according to historical accounts, Voltaire consumed around 50 cups of coffee daily and lived to be 84 years old. When told coffee was a slow poison, he reportedly quipped that he’d been drinking it for 65 years and hadn’t died yet.

Why did King Gustav III try to ban coffee?

King Gustav III of Sweden considered coffee a dangerous drug and attempted to prohibit it. He saw it as harmful to public health and morals, going so far as to monitor the health of coffee drinkers to prove his point.

What did Balzac say about coffee and writing?

Balzac believed coffee stimulated his creativity. He wrote through the night while consuming coffee continuously, stating that once it entered his system, his thoughts organized like an army ready for combat.

Why did Napoleon say coffee gave him strength?

Napoleon described coffee as providing "unusual warmth and strength." He relied on it to stay alert and focused, considering it vital for maintaining his energy levels.

What was unique about Frederick the Great’s coffee habits?

Frederick the Great of Prussia drank his coffee mixed with champagne instead of water, a highly unusual practice. He also viewed coffee negatively and sought to limit its consumption.

What did Talleyrand say was the ideal cup of coffee?

Talleyrand claimed the perfect coffee should be "black as the devil, hot as hell, pure as an angel, and sweet as love." This vivid description has become one of the most quoted coffee philosophies.

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