Archive for August, 2011
The Secret History of French Coffee Houses
Coffee is popular throughout the entire world, but in some countries, it’s more than just a drink. Coffee drinking forms the basis for economic and cultural practices and is a pillar of social life. This article series explores the role of coffee in Italy, France, Austria, the Netherlands, Scandanavia, Germany, and Britain.
It is said that coffee was brought to France in 1644 and that it took nearly 15 years for the drink to gain traction among the French. It finally took root in Marseilles among traders who had grown accustomed to it from traveling in the Middle East. Back in Paris, the Turkish ambassador Selaiman Aga brought coffee to the court of King Louis XIV in 1699. This gave way to the custom of having large parties in opulent castles and mansions with the purpose of celebrating and consuming coffee. While coffee became popular amongst royalty, there were some who found the new drink tasteful. Cafes didn’t become popular in France until 1686 when an enterprising Italian waiter opened Procope’s, marketing it as a lemonade shop. The opulent dcor and fragrant aromas attracted a customer base seeking to distance itself from the brutishness of daily life. Even still, coffee was not the most popular drink sold from the beginning. But when it did catch on, some of France’s most distinguished sons frequented it like Rousseau, Voltaire, and even a young Napolean Bonaparte and signaled the start of serious coffee drinking in Paris.
What Are the Various Cups of Coffee on Offer Nowadays?
Some may find it a bit daunting to walk into a coffee shop or coffee house today and look over the menu of the many different varieties of coffee drinks that are being offered. There has definitely been an increase in the varieties available and that may be because there are so many of these locations today. Every one of them is looking for their own special blend, as well as offering the more standard fare.
For those of us who are not quite sure of the difference between a cafe au lait (French for coffee with milk) and a latte (which some consider to be a cappuccino with more milk), then perhaps we can help shed a little light on the different flavored coffees and other drinks alike that are available at your local cafe bar.
Dreaming of the Perfect Cup
The perfect cup of coffee for most, it seems in Australia anyway, is a cafe latte. I know some of you ‘hardcore’ addicts out there will mock me for saying this, but it’s just the one coffee that seems to be most popular. If you were to sit at any given cafe in Australia, and stared blank-faced at the waiter, when asked what sort of coffee you would like? If you gave a nod, they would answer, ‘Ahh cafe latte, no problem at all sir’ and stroll off to happily put the docket in. Barista – ‘Another latte? Sigh’
If you were to categorise people in groups, of what their personalities were like, judging by the coffee they consumed, here is how it would go:
Coffee Options Explained – From Espressos to Grande Lattes
Walking into a coffee shop can be an intimidating experience. With a menu wall full of unpronounceable names and unknown coffee drinks it can be hard to choose what you want to order.
On the positive side of that, there are many great choices and you’ll seldom be disappointed with any. On the negative side, however, part of the reality of being human is that we can become “paralyzed” sometimes with so many options – especially when standing in line with other anxious coffee drinkers behind you.