Jul 16, 2012
“The Vertue of the Coffee Drink” — An ad for coffee from the 1650′s
This short, mid-17th-century article in praise of coffee promoted London’s first coffee shop…
You can read the transcript if you want. Here are some highlights…
THE Grain or Berry called Coffee, groweth upon little Trees, only in the Deserts of Arabia.
It is brought from thence, and drunk generally throughout all the Grand Seigniors Dominions.
It is a simple innocent thing, composed into a drink…and to be taken as hot as possibly can be endured; the which will never fetch the skin off the mouth, or raise any Blisters, by reason of that Heat….
It will prevent Drowsiness, and make one fit for Busines, if one have occasion to Watch, and therefore you are not to drink of it after Supper, unless you intend to be watchful, for it will hinder sleep for 3 or 4 hours….
It is neither Laxative nor Restringent.
(via Boing Boing)
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Funny how it never really caught on in England the way tea did. :-)
Wow. I’m about to go get some coffee…