Coffee Timeline 1600–1800: Key Moments in Early Coffee History

Ever wondered when coffee stopped being a medicinal curiosity and became the daily drink we know today? The journey from 1600 to 1800 saw coffee transform from an Arabian export to a global staple—shaped by traders, monarchs, and revolutions. This timeline tracks the key moments that turned coffee into a worldwide phenomenon.

Between 1615 and 1800, coffee evolved from a European medicine to a daily beverage for the masses, thanks to events like its 1615 sale as medicine, the 1652 opening of England’s first coffeehouse, and Brazil’s 1800 harvest making coffee widely affordable.

Coffee’s Early European Days

Coffee first appeared in Europe in 1615, sold not as a drink but as a medicinal product. By 1645, Venice had opened its first coffeehouse, sparking a wave of similar establishments across Italy. Just seven years later, in 1652, a Turkish Jew named Jacob launched the first British coffeehouse in Oxford. These early coffeehouses quickly multiplied and became known as “penny universities”—a nod to the one-penny price of a cup and the lively debates they hosted.

Coffee Faces Bans and Changes

In 1656, the Ottoman Empire temporarily banned coffee and shut down coffeehouses, reflecting the drink’s controversial early reputation. By 1668, coffee had replaced beer as the preferred morning drink in cities like New York, Boston, Baltimore, and Philadelphia. But in 1675, England’s King Charles II tried to suppress coffeehouses, fearing they distracted men from family life. Public outcry forced him to reverse the ban.

Coffee Spreads Globally

The global spread of coffee began in earnest around 1690, when the Dutch began transporting and cultivating coffee after smuggling seeds from the Arabian port of Mocha—making them the first to establish a coffee market outside Arabia. By 1727, coffee planting had started in both Brazil and Vietnam, followed by Mexico in 1729 and Jamaica in 1730. Between 1740 and 1805, coffee cultivation expanded widely across Central and South America. Other key moments include Cuba’s first coffee plantings in 1748, Guatemala’s in 1750, and Colombia’s in 1799. By 1800, Brazil’s massive coffee harvests made the drink accessible to the general public, no longer just an elite luxury.

Notable Regional Milestones

Venice alone had 218 coffeehouses by 1766. Brazil’s first large-scale coffee estate emerged in 1767. In the Americas, the 1773 Boston Tea Party shifted preferences toward coffee, seen as a patriotic choice. Coffee cultivation also began in Costa Rica (1779), Venezuela (1784), Egypt (where Napoleon drank heavily during the 1798 campaign), and Mexico again (1790). The 1763 count of 218 coffeehouses in Venice highlights the drink’s social role, while the 1799 start of Colombian coffee farming marked another step in global expansion.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was coffee first sold in Europe?

Coffee was first sold in Europe in 1615, but initially as a medicinal product rather than a beverage. It wasn’t until later that it became widely consumed as a drink.

Where was the first coffeehouse in England?

The first coffeehouse in England was opened in 1652 in Oxford by a Turkish Jew named Jacob. These coffeehouses quickly became popular discussion hubs, nicknamed “penny universities” because a cup cost one penny.

Why did King Charles II try to ban coffeehouses?

In 1675, King Charles II of England attempted to suppress coffeehouses because he believed they distracted men from their families and business at home. The public backlash was so strong that he had to repeal the ban.

How did coffee spread to the Americas?

Coffee spread to the Americas starting around 1690, when the Dutch smuggled coffee seeds from the Arabian port of Mocha and began cultivation. By the 1700s, countries like Brazil, Jamaica, Mexico, and Colombia had all begun growing coffee, with significant expansions from 1740 to 1805.

When did coffee become common for ordinary people?

By 1800, Brazil’s large coffee harvests made coffee widely available, shifting it from an elite-only beverage to one that ordinary people could drink daily.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Historic Coffee Exploration

Explore the roots of coffee with FrontStreet’s Ethiopia Yirgacheffe, known for its bright citrus and floral notes, and Colombia Huila, offering balanced caramel and nutty tones—both reflective of the regions pivotal in early coffee cultivation. For a deeper, classic profile, try FrontStreet’s Brazil Serra Negra, with its chocolatey and nutty characteristics that echo Brazil’s 1800s mass-production era. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.