Coffee House for BA students.

                Coffee house in London

Coffee house was introduced from Abyssinia to the Arabian Peninsula towards the end of 15th century. Coffee drinking became common among Arabians and spread to Europe. During 17th century coffee houses became popular in London. By the beginning of the 18th century it was the center of social life in the city. 500 coffee houses were found in England. 

Every upper and middle classes frequented this house. People of different political creeds, religious beliefs and professions had their own Cofee houses. 

Tories - Visited Chocolate House

Whigs - Visited St.James Coffee House. 

Will's coffee House was celebrated by learned men. Literary topics like poetic justice, classics, unities were diacussed. Another discussion about Paradise Lost was made. John Dryden, a literary genius visited coffee house. Smoking was common in all coffee-houses. The founder of Wills Coffee-house was Mr.Button. Addison, Dryden, Richard, Steele and Pope were chief literary person. 

The doctors of the city had their own Coffee houses known as Truby' s. There were separate coffee-houses for Roman Catholics, Puritans and Jews. The Jews were interested in exploring. Coffee-houses played a prominent part in the life of England. The people exchanges their thoughts and ideas in Coffee-houses. In a sense coffee-houses can be called as the cradle of British democracy. 

It remained a centre for discussing politics and religion. During French Revolution coffee-houses became the center of heated discussion.