Britain’s First Coffeehouse Opened in 1650

You’re curious how coffee took root in Britain — not just as a drink, but as a social revolution. The story begins not with a roastery or a bean, but with a single shop that changed how people traded news, ideas, and caffeine. Let’s unpack the surprising, often overlooked origins of Britain’s coffeehouse culture.

The very first coffeehouse in England opened in 1650 near a university and was called The Sign of the Angel (also referred to as in Chinese sources); just two years later, London got its own: Roger’s Coffeehouse, which quickly drew crowds despite its rough-edged coffee. By the 1660s, London boasted 3,000 coffeehouses. This is how it happened.

How Britain Got Its First Coffeehouse

In 1650, a British merchant named Edwards met a man named Roger while in Turkey. The two struck up a friendship, and Edwards eventually invited Roger to return to England as a business partner. Back home, Edwards had developed a daily coffee habit — so much so that it piqued Roger’s curiosity. Roger began learning about the drink, and when the time was right, Edwards funded the opening of a coffeehouse, which Roger ran. It was named Roger’s Coffeehouse.

The World’s First Coffee Ad — and Why It Mattered

Roger’s shop was located in London’s commercial heart, near the Tower and the Stock Exchange. To draw in customers, Roger promoted coffee’s health benefits via printed flyers — the first known coffee advertisements in the world. These handbills claimed coffee could boost energy, aid digestion, and help with gout and stomach issues. This marketing push helped establish coffee not just as a novelty, but as a functional beverage.

More Than a Café: London’s Coffeehouses as Public Hubs

Situated near the Stock Exchange, Roger’s and other early coffeehouses became informal info exchanges. Traders and citizens discussed business deals, politics, and scholarly topics over coffee. These venues earned the nickname “Penny Universities”: for just a penny, you could read the news, join debates, and soak up knowledge. They were ad-hoc meeting places for information and ideas, long before the internet.

The Great Coffee Gender Divide

One quirk of London’s 1650s coffee scene? Women weren’t allowed inside. This sparked outrage. In 1674, a group of wives submitted a formal petition to the Lord Mayor of London, claiming their husbands were neglecting family life and suffering physical decline due to too much coffee. The men fired back, calling the claims baseless. The controversy went unresolved — but highlighted how coffee culture disrupted social norms.

Why Did Coffeehouses Explode in 17th-Century London?

Several factors fueled the rapid spread of coffeehouses:

• They were centrally located, often near financial and political hubs.
• Coffee was promoted as healthy and energizing.
• They offered an alternative public space for news and discussion.
• The growing commercial economy created demand for informal meeting spots.

Within a decade of Roger’s opening, London had around 3,000 coffeehouses. That’s roughly one for every 200 residents in the city proper.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was the first coffeehouse opened in England?

The first coffeehouse in England opened in 1650 near a university and was known as The Sign of the Angel (or ). It predated the more famous Roger’s Coffeehouse in London by two years.

Where was London’s first major coffeehouse located?

Roger’s Coffeehouse opened in London around 1652, situated near the Tower of London and the Stock Exchange in a busy commercial district. It became a model for future coffeehouses in the city.

What was special about Roger’s Coffeehouse?

Roger’s Coffeehouse was one of the first to advertise coffee using printed flyers — the earliest known coffee ads. It promoted supposed health benefits such as improved energy and relief from gout and stomach problems.

Why were women banned from 17th-century British coffeehouses?

Women were not allowed in most London coffeehouses during the 1650s–1670s. This led to a 1674 petition by a group of wives who claimed coffee harmed their husbands’ health and family lives, though the issue was never resolved officially.

How many coffeehouses were there in London by the 1660s?

By the 1660s, London had approximately 3,000 coffeehouses, making them widespread hubs for news, business, and intellectual exchange throughout the city.

What was a “Penny University”?

“Penny University” was a nickname for London coffeehouses where, for the price of a penny, patrons could read newspapers, engage in debate, and exchange information — functioning as informal centers of learning and news.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Coffee History Fans

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