How Coffee Spread Across Europe and the Americas Before 1700

Ever wondered how coffee went from an obscure Middle Eastern drink to a staple in European cafes and American colonies? The journey wasn’t instant—coffee took nearly 100 years to cross continents, adapting to local tastes and sparking social revolutions along the way. This timeline tracks every key moment from its first European mention to its arrival in New York.

In short: The first European description of coffee came from a German doctor in Syria in 1573, but it wasn’t until 1645 that the Netherlands imported coffee from Yemen, and 1650 that England got its first coffeehouse. By 1668, milk coffee was trending in France, and by 1683, Vienna’s first coffeehouse opened using beans left by retreating Ottoman troops.

The First Mentions and Early Trade (1573–1640)

The earliest known European account of coffee came in 1573, documented by a German doctor living in Syria. By the latter half of the 16th century, European travelers along the eastern Mediterranean were encountering coffee. Meanwhile, the 17th century saw the rise of powerful trading companies: the British East India Company formed in 1660, and the Dutch East India Company in 1602. These companies facilitated trade between Asia and Europe, and during this period, Arabs introduced coffee plants to India.

Coffee Arrives in Europe (1615–1664)

Europe’s first recorded coffee import arrived in Venice in 1615, brought by a French traveler from Turkey—though some accounts suggest Venetian merchants had coffee as early as the late 16th century. The first coffeehouse in Venice opened in 1645, making coffee an everyday drink in Italy. In 1640, Dutch merchants imported coffee from Yemen’s Mocha port to Amsterdam, marking the start of direct European coffee trade. By 1650, London had its first coffeehouse (opened by Jewish proprietors in Oxford), followed by the city’s first official coffeehouse in 1652 (run by a Greek). France imported its first coffee in 1660, shipped from Egypt to Marseille. The Netherlands opened its first coffeehouse in The Hague in 1664.

Coffee Crosses the Atlantic (1668–1683)

In 1668, coffee reached North America, four years after the British seized New Amsterdam from the Dutch and renamed it New York. By 1670, coffee had entered Germany, and in 1672, Paris got its first coffeehouse (opened by an Armenian), though street vendors had already been selling coffee from mobile urns. In 1683, Vienna’s first coffeehouse opened (run by a Pole), using beans abandoned by the retreating Ottoman army after their failed siege. That same year, a Polish image of coffee culture emerged from the Viennese victory. In 1685, French doctors began using milk in coffee for medicinal purposes, sparking the popularity of café au lait. By 1686, Paris hosted the world’s first literary-style coffeehouse, Café Procope (opened by a Sicilian), which became a hub for thinkers and writers, inspiring similar venues.

Key Milestones and Cultural Shifts

• 1573: German doctor in Syria provides the first European coffee description.
• 1615: First coffee reaches Venice, via France or earlier Venetian traders.
• 1625: Cairo has over 300 coffee shops serving sweetened coffee.
• 1640: Dutch import coffee from Yemen’s Mocha port to Amsterdam.
• 1645: Venice opens its first coffeehouse; coffee becomes mainstream in Italy.
• 1650: First coffeehouse in England (Oxford, Jewish-owned).
• 1652: First London coffeehouse (Greek-owned).
• 1660: France imports coffee from Egypt to Marseille.
• 1664: First Dutch coffeehouse opens in The Hague; Britain renames New Amsterdam to New York.
• 1668: Coffee arrives in North America.
• 1670: Coffee enters Germany.
• 1672: First Paris coffeehouse opens; street vendors predate it.
• 1683: Vienna’s first coffeehouse opens using leftover Ottoman beans.
• 1685: Milk coffee gains popularity in France via medical use.
• 1686: Paris’s Café Procope, the world’s first literary coffeehouse, opens.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was coffee first mentioned in Europe?

The first European description of coffee comes from a German doctor living in Syria in 1573. By the mid-to-late 16th century, European travelers in the eastern Mediterranean were encountering coffee, though it wasn’t yet widely known.

When did coffee arrive in Venice?

Coffee reached Venice in 1615, brought by a French traveler from Turkey. Some sources suggest Venetian merchants may have had coffee as early as the late 16th century. The first Venetian coffeehouse opened in 1645.

Which country first imported coffee from Yemen?

The Netherlands was the first European country to import coffee directly from Yemen’s Mocha port, with the Dutch East India Company bringing coffee to Amsterdam in 1640.

When did coffee come to North America?

Coffee arrived in North America in 1668, four years after the British captured New Amsterdam from the Dutch in 1664 and renamed it New York.

What was the first coffeehouse in Paris?

Paris’s first coffeehouse opened in 1672, run by an Armenian. However, street vendors had already been selling coffee from mobile urns before that. The city’s first literary-style coffeehouse, Café Procope, opened in 1686.

Why did coffee become popular in 17th-century Europe?

Coffee gained popularity due to trade routes established by companies like the Dutch and British East India Companies, which imported coffee from the Middle East and India. Its social role in coffeehouses also made it a hub for intellectuals and the elite.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Historic Coffee Flavors

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