Aloha

In the 1700's, there were over 2,000 coffee houses in London alone. In the latter half of the 18th century tea became the common drink, but the establishments still were called "coffee houses". One would pay a penny upon entry and then indulge in a cup of coffee, later tea, and the talk of the day. The coffee house was the place where scholars, tradesmen, politicians, poets, writers, and the like would meet to share new ideas and discuss current events. One did not ask where a man lived, but which coffee house he frequented. It is intriguing to note how the conversations that took place in these coffee houses influenced the politics and literature, and the social and commercial life of those times.