An historical account of coffee. With an engraving, and botanical description of the tree. To which are added sundry papers relative to its culture and use, as an article of diet and commerce ... / [John Ellis].

  • Ellis, John, 1710?-1776
Date:
1774
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An historical account of coffee. With an engraving, and botanical description of the tree. To which are added sundry papers relative to its culture and use, as an article of diet and commerce ... / [John Ellis]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    18/86 (page 12)
    Mr. Galand tells us he was informed by Mr. de la Croix, the King’s Interpreter, that Mr.Thevenot, who had travelled through the Eaft, at his return in 1657, brought with him to Paris fome Coffee for his own ufe, and often treated his friends with it; amongft which number Monfieur de la Croix was one ; that from that time he had continued to drink it, being fupplied by fome Armenians who fettled at Paris, and by degrees brought it into reputation in that city. It was known fome years fooner at Marfeilles; for in 1644,, fome gentlemen who accompanied Monfieur de la Haye to Con- ftantinople, brought back with them on their return, not only fome Coffee, but the proper veffels and apparatus for making and drinking it, which were particularly magnificent, and very different from what are now ufed amongft us. However, until the year 1660, Coffee was drunk only by fuch as had been ac- cuftomed to it in the Levant, and their friends : but that year fome bales were imported from Egypt, which gave a great number of perfons an opportunity of trying it, and contributed very much to bringing it into general ufe; and in 1671, certain private perfons at Marfeilles determined for the firft time to open a Coffee-hou'fe in the neighbourhood of the Exchange, which fucceeded extremely well; people met there to fmoke, talk of bufinefs, and divert themfelves with play : it was loon crouded, particularly by the Turkey merchants and traders to the Levant. Thefe places were found very convenient for difcourf- ing on and fettling matters relating to commerce; and fiiortly after, the number of Coffee-houfes encreafed amazingly. Not- withftanding which, there was not lefs drunk in private houfes, but a much greater quantity ; fo that it became univerfally in ufe at Marfeilles, and the neighbouring cities. Before the year 1669, Coffee had not been feen at Paris, except at Mr. Thevenot’s, and fome of his friends; nor fcarce