Does Coffee Suppress Sexual Desire? Six Historical Myths Debunked

In 1688, London’s first coffeehouse opened despite a widespread belief that coffee killed sex drive — a fear so strong it was thought to render monks chaste. But did it? This deep dive unpacks six historical misconceptions about coffee, from its supposed anti-aphrodisiac effects to its role in shaping modern work ethics and social class.

No, coffee does not suppress sexual impulse. The 17th-century British notion that coffee killed libido was rooted in religious anxiety, not science. No evidence supports this claim, and modern research disproves it entirely.

Why Did People Think Coffee Killed Sex Drive?

In early 17th-century Europe, coffee arrived as an exotic novelty. In Britain, a popular myth claimed it suppressed sexual desire so effectively that overconsumption could cause impotence. This idea made coffee appealing to abstinent monks, aligning with Puritan values that viewed bodily pleasures — especially sex — as distractions from spiritual labor. Max Weber noted that Puritan asceticism, while milder than monastic life, extended even into marriage, where sex was permitted only for procreation. In this worldview, coffee’s ability to replace alcohol and promote wakefulness fit neatly into a theology that treated the body as a tool for divine work, not pleasure.

How Did Coffee Become a ‘Sober’ Alternative to Alcohol?

Before coffee, beer was a dietary staple: 16th-century male millworkers drank up to 4 quarts (about 4.5 liters) daily, and women half that. Beer was seen as food, not a vice. Coffee, low in calories and non-nutritive, only gained traction when food was plentiful. Its big break? Acting as a hangover cure. By the 1670s–80s, writers like Sylvester Dufour noted coffee’s role as a sobering agent alongside wine and spirits, marking the start of alcohol’s decline in favor of a drink linked to clarity, restraint, and a new ‘rational’ lifestyle.

What Made Coffee Seem ‘Elitist’ or Pretentious?

Initially, coffee was a curiosity for royalty and nobility — an exotic, bitter joke drink akin to Chinese porcelain. They didn’t crave its flavor but enjoyed the ritual: fine porcelain, elaborate manners, and an air of sophistication. Drinking coffee became a performance of class, with high costs keeping it exclusive. Over time, this ritual trickled into middle-class homes, where morning coffee reinforced family roles. Meanwhile, the ‘royal’ aura lured commoners, but not without resistance: critics linked coffee to unnatural bodily control, fearing it disrupted the natural order.

Was Coffee Really Bad for Your Health Back Then?

Early doctors debated coffee’s effects using outdated theories like the four humors. Some claimed it cooled the blood, others that it thinned bile or induced calm — all speculative. By the 18th century, a compromise emerged: coffee was deemed universally healthy, curing ‘humor imbalances.’ Even then, skepticism persisted. Swedish King Gustav III famously tested coffee’s toxicity on two prisoners (both survived and were freed). Meanwhile, artists mocked health fears: Bach’s ‘Coffee Cantata’ celebrated a father’s failed attempt to ban his daughter’s coffee habit, while composer Carl Gottlieb Hering’s ‘Coffee Canon’ joked, ‘Don’t drink so much coffee!’

How Is Coffee Different from Chocolate in Cultural Role?

Chocolate, popular among 18th-century aristocrats, offered none of coffee’s wakefulness. Instead, it was associated with leisure and even rumored to be aphrodisiac. While coffee signaled a return to work (sitting upright, alert), chocolate was sipped reclined, tied to indulgence. Servants attended nobles drinking chocolate, unlike self-serve coffee. Over time, solid chocolate became a children’s food, while coffee spread globally as the go-to stimulant for workers, students, and creatives — from Beethoven (who demanded 60g of beans per cup) to Voltaire (reportedly drinking 50 cups daily).

How Did Coffee Conquer Europe Despite Its Strange Origins?

Coffee’s journey began in Ethiopia’s Kaffa region, where a shepherd noticed his goats became hyper after eating a certain plant’s fruit. Monks later roasted, ground, and brewed the seeds to stay awake during prayers. By the late 16th century, Arabs in Turkey and the Levant drank coffee publicly — scandalous in Europe, where daytime drinking was taboo. German doctor Leonhard Rauwolf’s 1582 travelogue described coffee as ‘black as ink,’ noting its local use for stomach issues but not its taste. In Islamic cultures, coffee replaced alcohol (forbidden) and complemented math-heavy scholarship. Europe, already alcohol-friendly, took longer to embrace coffee’s dark, mysterious allure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did 17th-century Europeans really believe coffee killed your sex drive?

Yes. In early 17th-century Britain, a common myth held that coffee suppressed libido so severely it could cause impotence, making it popular among monks seeking chastity. This belief stemmed from religious fears about bodily pleasure, not scientific evidence.

Why was coffee seen as a ‘sober’ alternative to alcohol?

Coffee gained popularity as a hangover cure and a way to promote wakefulness. By the 1670s–80s, it was linked to clarity and restraint, replacing beer (a calorie-heavy staple) in a society shifting toward rational, work-focused values. Writers noted its role in curbing drunkenness and offering a new, ‘cleaner’ stimulant.

Was coffee considered unhealthy in the 18th century?

Early doctors debated its effects using outdated humor theories (e.g., cooling blood, thinning bile). Some claimed it cured ‘imbalances,’ while others feared it disrupted natural order. By the 18th century, a compromise deemed it universally healthy, though skepticism (like Sweden’s King Gustav III’s failed toxicity tests) and artistic mockery (Bach’s ‘Coffee Cantata’) persisted.

How did chocolate differ from coffee in social roles?

Chocolate, favored by 18th-century aristocrats, lacked coffee’s stimulating effects and was tied to leisure, even rumored to be aphrodisiac. Served by servants, it implied relaxation, while coffee signaled work and alertness. Over time, chocolate became a children’s food, while coffee remained a global stimulant for productivity.

Where did coffee originate, and how did it reach Europe?

Coffee’s story began in Ethiopia’s Kaffa region, where goats eating a mysterious plant’s fruit became energetic. Monks brewed the roasted seeds to stay awake during prayers. By the late 1500s, Arabs in Turkey and the Levant drank it publicly. German traveler Leonhard Rauwolf noted its use for stomach issues in 1582, but Europe embraced it slowly due to its dark color and associations with the unknown.

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