A Discourse of Coffee, Read at a Meeting of the Royal Society, June 14, 1699

This is a fascinating document, in the original, hand-written form.

"I cannot learn the use of any part of this Plant, except the Berries, of which boil'd in Water, a Drink is made, and drunk much among the Arabians and Turks, and also now in Europe."

The last paragraph is a great summary of coffee, our most wonderful beverage:

"Furthermore Coffee has greatly increased the Trade of Tobacco and Pipes, Earthen dishes, Tin wares, News-Papers, Coals, Candles, Sugar, Tea, Chocolate, and what not. Coffee-house makes all sorts of People sociable, they improve Arts, and Merchandize, and all other Knowledge; and a worthy member of this Society (now departed) has thought that Coffee-houses have improved useful knowledge very much."

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