Napoleon and Other Famous Coffee Lovers Through History

Ever wondered how your coffee habit stacks up against history’s greatest minds and rulers? From French emperors to German composers, some of the most influential people in history didn’t just drink coffee—they built routines, philosophies, and even legends around it. Here’s how 10 notable figures, including Napoleon, really consumed coffee, and what their habits reveal about its power.

In short: Napoleon described strong coffee as giving him “warmth and extraordinary strength,” while Voltaire reportedly drank 50 cups a day for 65 years—and lived to 84. Others, like Frederick the Great, mixed coffee with champagne, and Balzac drank it non-stop for 12-hour writing marathons.

What Napoleon Really Said About Coffee

French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte (1769–1821) had a lifelong love for coffee. He famously described its effect as: “A strong dose of coffee makes me feel warm and gives me extraordinary strength.” That bold, concentrated brew wasn’t just fuel—it was part of his physical and mental routine. Though the exact preparation isn’t recorded, his preference for intensity over dilution tells us he valued impact over delicacy.

Coffee and Creativity: Bach, Balzac, and Beethoven’s Rituals

German composer Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750) not only drank coffee himself but also encouraged others to do so—despite writing the satirical one-act comic opera The Coffee Cantata, where a father tries to get his daughter to quit. Balzac, the prolific French writer (1799–1850), drank endless coffee while working. He slept from 6 p.m. to midnight, then wrote nonstop for 12 hours with constant coffee intake. “As soon as coffee is in my stomach, my ideas begin to race,” he wrote, comparing the effect to an army deploying for battle.

Unusual Coffee Habits: Champagne, 50 Cups, and Garden-Grown Beans

Frederick the Great of Prussia (1712–1785) took coffee with an unexpected twist—he drank it mixed with champagne, not water. Meanwhile, American General Ulysses S. Grant (1822–1885) preferred his coffee strong and black, drinking a large cup every morning alongside fresh cucumber and vinegar. Louis XV of France (1710–1774) grew his own coffee plants in the palace gardens, harvesting six pounds of beans annually for his personal use.

Extreme Coffee Consumption: Voltaire’s 50 Cups a Day

Voltaire, the French Enlightenment philosopher (1694–1778), drank up to 50 cups of coffee daily for decades. When told it was a slow poison, he famously replied, “I’ve been drinking it for 65 years and I’m still alive”—which he was, until age 84. French diplomat Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord (1754–1838) summed up ideal coffee as “black as the devil, hot as hell, pure as an angel, sweet as love.”

Early Coffee Skeptics and Bans

Not everyone embraced coffee. In 1524, Mecca’s religious court banned coffeehouses to prevent unrest. Turkish Sultan Murad IV (effectively ruling by 1623) and later King Gustav III of Sweden (1746–1792) saw coffee as dangerous or immoral, enforcing bans. Even in the 19th century, Swiss authorities continued restricting coffee consumption under various decrees.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Napoleon really say coffee gave him strength?

Yes. Napoleon Bonaparte is quoted as saying that a strong dose of coffee made him feel “warmth and gave me extraordinary strength,” reflecting his belief in its energising effect.

How many cups of coffee did Voltaire drink a day?

Voltaire reportedly drank up to 50 cups of coffee per day for over 65 years and lived to be 84, dismissing concerns that it was harmful.

What unusual mixture did Frederick the Great drink?

Frederick the Great of Prussia drank coffee mixed with champagne instead of water, a habit that set him apart from other historical coffee drinkers.

What did Balzac’s coffee routine look like?

Balzac slept from 6 p.m. to midnight, then wrote for 12 hours straight while continuously drinking coffee to maintain his creative output.

Why were some leaders against coffee?

Historical figures like the Turkish Sultan and King Gustav III of Sweden banned or discouraged coffee, often citing concerns about public order, morality, or health.

Did Louis XV grow his own coffee?

Yes, Louis XV of France had coffee plants cultivated in his palace gardens, producing six pounds of beans each year for his personal use.

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