Does Coffee Suppress Sexual Desire? Six Coffee Myths Explained

Ever heard the claim that coffee kills your sex drive? Or that it was once considered a drink for monks trying to resist temptation? These aren’t just old wives’ tales — they’re real historical beliefs that shaped how coffee was first received in Europe. If you’ve ever wondered whether your daily cup is doing more than just waking you up, you’re not alone. Let’s unpack the surprising, sometimes strange truths behind coffee’s early reputation.

No, coffee does not suppress sexual desire. The idea that it did was a 17th-century myth, particularly in Britain, where coffee was wrongly thought to curb libido — some even believed it could cause impotence. This view, however, lacked evidence and faded as coffee became more widely accepted.

Did Early Europeans Really Believe Coffee Killed Sex Drive?

In the early 1600s, when coffee first arrived in Europe, some Britons believed it suppressed sexual desire. This idea was so widespread that coffee was seen as the drink of choice for monks and others practicing celibacy. The fear wasn’t just about arousal — it reflected deeper anxieties about losing control to physical impulses. In contrast, today’s concerns are more about energy crashes or overconsumption, not morality or chastity.

Why Did Coffee Catch On If It Was ‘Bad for Libido’?

Despite the myth, coffee houses began opening across Europe — including London’s first around 1688. The drink’s real appeal lay elsewhere: it offered a clean, non-alcoholic alternative that helped people stay alert. Unlike beer, which was a calorific staple of the working class, coffee was light, low in calories, and ideal for a society shifting toward mental and skilled labor. Its ability to sober up drinkers gave it an edge, aligning it with values like clarity and discipline.

How Does Caffeine Actually Keep You Awake?

Coffee’s wakefulness effect comes from caffeine, a central nervous system stimulant. Caffeine speeds up mental processing, sharpens focus, and delivers a steady, uplifting boost without the crash associated with alcohol. It became especially valuable as European societies moved into the Age of Reason — a time when productivity, punctuality, and mental clarity were newly prized. Caffeine helped shift workers’ expectations from endurance to efficiency.

Why Did Coffee Once Seem Pretentious?

Early coffee culture was elite and ritualized. Aristocrats treated it as an exotic novelty — like fine china or Persian rugs — more for show than stimulation. They didn’t care for the bitter taste, but they loved the elegance of coffee rituals. Over time, the middle class adopted these practices, turning morning coffee into a domestic routine that mirrored aristocratic refinement. The ‘snob appeal’ of coffee wasn’t about flavor — it was about performance, class, and self-presentation.

Was Coffee Really Thought to Be Unhealthy?

Yes — early doctors debated coffee’s effects fiercely. Some claimed it disrupted the body’s balance of ‘humors’ (blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile), while others insisted it cured everything from indigestion to melancholy. With no clear consensus, coffee’s health impact remained controversial. Notably, Swedish King Gustav III even conducted a bizarre experiment to prove coffee’s toxicity, assigning two prisoners to drink coffee and tea for years under medical observation. Both survived — much to the king’s dismay.

What’s the Deal with Coffee and Chocolate?

In the 18th century, chocolate was the preferred drink of aristocrats — especially those who believed it had aphrodisiac qualities. Unlike coffee, which signaled work and discipline, chocolate was served in luxurious settings and associated with leisure and sensuality. While coffee prepared people for a productive day, chocolate was a symbol of indulgence. Over time, chocolate became a children’s food, while coffee solidified its role as the working adult’s stimulant.

How Did Coffee Become Accepted in Europe?

Coffee originated in the Kafa region of Ethiopia, where monks reportedly used it to stay awake during prayers. It spread to the Arabian Peninsula by the 15th century, where it became a daily drink — especially valuable in a culture that banned alcohol. By the 16th century, European travelers encountered coffee in the Middle East, noting its dark color and unusual consumption habits. Though initially viewed with suspicion, coffee gradually entered European life through trade and cultural exchange, eventually becoming a global staple.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did 17th-century Europeans really think coffee made you impotent?

Yes. In 17th-century Britain, it was a common belief that drinking coffee could reduce sexual desire or even cause impotence. This idea was tied to broader fears about losing control over base instincts, and coffee was seen as the drink of monks and others committed to celibacy. There was no scientific basis for this claim, and it faded as coffee consumption became more common.

What effect does caffeine have on alertness?

Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system, increasing awareness, reaction time, and mental processing speed. Unlike alcohol, which causes a euphoric peak followed by a crash, caffeine provides a more stable and sustained lift. This made it especially valuable as societies shifted toward work requiring mental focus and consistency.

Why was coffee considered a ‘posh’ or elite drink at first?

Early European coffee culture was highly ritualized and associated with aristocracy. Nobles treated coffee as an exotic, fashionable novelty, emphasizing the ceremony around its preparation and serving rather than its functional benefits. The elite’s focus on presentation and social status contributed to coffee’s image as a sophisticated, high-class beverage.

Was coffee ever thought to be unhealthy or morally dangerous?

Yes. Early European doctors debated coffee’s health effects extensively, with some claiming it disrupted bodily humors or caused harm, while others argued it cured various ailments. King Gustav III of Sweden famously tried to prove coffee’s toxicity through a long-term prison experiment. Public opinion remained divided for centuries.

How was chocolate different from coffee in 18th-century Europe?

Where did coffee originally come from, and how did it reach Europe?

Coffee originated in Ethiopia’s Kafa region, where local monks first used it to promote wakefulness during prayer. It spread to the Arabian Peninsula by the 15th century and became a daily beverage there. By the 16th century, European travelers encountered coffee in the Middle East and brought knowledge of it back home, leading to its gradual adoption across Europe despite initial suspicion.

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