How Coffee Reached Germany in 1670 and Took Hold

When did coffee actually arrive in Germany—and why did it take so long? While German botanist Leonhard Rauwolf wrote extensively about Middle Eastern coffee in his 1582 travelogue, making him Europe’s first published coffee chronicler, actual coffee didn’t reach German soil until 1670. That’s over half a century after it appeared in Italy, England, and France. So what changed by the late 1600s, and how did coffee go from late arrival to cultural fixture?

Coffee reached Germany in 1670, but the first coffeehouse opened in Hamburg in 1679. By the early 1700s, cities like Leipzig, Stuttgart, and Berlin had embraced the trend, turning coffee into a widespread social phenomenon.

The First German Coffeehouses

Although coffee was known in academic circles thanks to Rauwolf’s 1582 writings, it wasn’t until 1670 that it physically arrived in Germany. Nine years later, in 1679, a British entrepreneur opened Germany’s first coffeehouse in Hamburg. This sparked a rapid expansion: Leipzig, Stuttgart, and Berlin soon followed suit, with coffeehouses becoming central to urban social life.

Frederick the Great’s Anti-Coffee Campaign

By the mid-18th century, King Frederick the Great of Prussia grew concerned about the economic and cultural impact of coffee. With Germany importing more and more green coffee beans, foreign trade drained the treasury. Additionally, coffee began replacing the traditional breakfast of warm beer soup—a staple of German meals for centuries. In response, Frederick launched a multi-pronged campaign against coffee.

His government raised taxes on coffee and the price of brewing equipment and cups. At the same time, royal physicians spread claims that excessive coffee drinking could cause infertility. Despite these efforts, coffee’s popularity continued to rise.

Bach’s Coffee Cantata: Coffee in Popular Culture

In 1734, the famed German composer Johann Sebastian Bach wrote The Coffee Cantata (Schweigt stille, plaudert nicht), a comic opera that captured the absurdity of the coffee debate. The story centres on a father who tries to stop his daughter from drinking coffee by denying her new clothes, social events, and even marriage. She defiantly insists, “Without my coffee, I’m as miserable as meat on a grill… Coffee is sweeter than a thousand kisses.”

Eventually, she outwits him by agreeing to marry—but only if her future husband allows her to drink coffee. The opera ends happily, with both marriage and coffee intact. Its final line jokes: “Just as a cat won’t give up hunting mice, women—from daughters to grandmothers—love their coffee. How can anyone forbid it?”

Bach’s own family included a daughter who adored coffee, and many interpret the piece as a personal reflection on the era’s coffee craze.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did coffee first arrive in Germany?

Coffee first arrived in Germany in 1670, decades after its introduction in Italy, England, and France. The first recorded evidence of coffee being present in the country dates to that year.

Where was the first coffeehouse in Germany opened?

The first coffeehouse in Germany was opened in Hamburg in 1679 by a British man. This marked the beginning of coffeehouse culture in the country.

Why did Frederick the Great oppose coffee?

Frederick the Great opposed coffee because increasing imports were draining Germany’s treasury, as more money flowed to foreign coffee bean suppliers. He was also concerned that coffee was replacing the traditional German breakfast of warm beer soup, threatening a long-standing cultural practice.

What measures did Frederick take to suppress coffee drinking?

Frederick raised taxes on coffee and raised the prices of coffee-making equipment and cups. His government also spread negative health claims, including that coffee could cause infertility, in an effort to discourage consumption.

What is Bach’s Coffee Cantata about?

Bach’s 1734 Coffee Cantata humorously depicts a father’s failed attempt to stop his daughter from drinking coffee. The daughter loves coffee so much she defies her father’s threats, and eventually secures a marriage agreement that allows her to keep drinking it. The work reflects the coffee mania of 18th-century Germany.

Did coffee replace beer as a breakfast drink in Germany?

Yes, by the 1750s, coffee was increasingly replacing the traditional German breakfast drink of warm beer soup, leading to concerns about the loss of a longstanding cultural custom.

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