Coffee Houses - A Distinguished History

Written By: Jacques Buffett

The early coffee houses of Europe and America were not only places for socialising, some evolved into the most important institutions of the modern world.

The New York Stock Exchange started as a coffee house as did Lloyds of London. Up until recently the runners at the British Stock Exchange were still called waiters due to the fact it too started as a coffee house. In London many coffee houses went on to become some of the world's most powerful businesses. Lloyd's Coffeehouse became Lloyds of London. The Baltic Coffeehouse became the London Shipping Exchange and the Jerusalem Cafe became the East India Company.

Other cafe's evolved into centres for both the arts and sciences. Sir Isaac Newton was a regular patron of the Grecian Coffeehouse. Jonathon Swift and Alexander Pope frequented the colourfully named Old Slaughter's Café. Even the event that marked the beginning of the modern age began in a humble café. On July 12, 1789 Camille Desmoulins leaped on a table at the café of the Palais Royal and urged the mob to take up arms against the French aristocracy.

(Info from www.konajoe.com)

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