Coffee-drinking of olde

Did you know, for instance, that it was said that coffee was first discovered in Ethiopia, when farm animals ate the coffee berries and the effect of the caffeine was observed.

Also the early coffee shops in London were places of great debate, political and otherwise, known as ‘penny universities.’

There has been an interesting article by Geoff Holder in the Evening Times, which considered the drinking of coffee in Glasgow, Scotland, in the past.

Apparently, the first coffee shop arrived in Glasgow in 1678 and was introduced by Colonel Walter Whiteford.

However, before the arrival of this drinking-alternative, things were rather grim in Glasgow.

Apparently, the Glaswegians drank their water from a series of wells, although the water supply became oversubscribed and it also became polluted, which caused problems and was unable to meet the needs of the Glaswegian population.

In response, in 1859, an enormous project was undertaken to bring fresh water from Loch Katrine.

Other strategies were used too reservoirs were introduced and water storage towers were also constructed.

It is also said that drunkenness was something of a problem in Glasgow of old and there was a search for alternatives to the consumption of alcohol.

Coffee shops were such a solution, although this met with hostility by the pubs, which wanted to protect their trade.

As noted, ‘coffee drunkenness’ was seen as derisery by the Victualling Trades Review 1890, although brandy, it was said, was an excellent cure!