Before and After: London Coffee Houses

[timelets]

Roughly, before 1650,

men had gathered in taverns to do business and exchange ideas. But they were often unpleasant, rowdy and – thanks to the ale – unproductive venues. Coffee, on the other hand, will prevent drowsiness and make one fit for business.

Soon, intellectuals, professionals and merchants thronged to the coffee houses to debate, distribute pamphlets, do deals, smoke clay pipes and, of course, consume a drink said to resemble syrup of soot and essence of old shoes. Newsletters and gazettes (the precursors of newspapers) were distributed in coffee houses and most functioned as reading rooms and notice boards announcing sales, sailings, and auctions to the businessmen who frequented them.

https://www.history.co.uk/history-of-london/londons-coffee-houses

"Lloyd's Coffee House (1960)" (Watch on YouTube)

With the internet, public libraries lost their younger patrons to coffee houses because food, drink and conversation were not allowed.