What Are Coffee Houses Known For. The Tontine Coffee House in New York in similar fashion to Lloyds of London became the home of the New York Stock Exchange. In 17th and 18th century England coffeehouses were also popular places for people from all walks of life to go and meet chat gossip and have fun whilst enjoying the latest fashion a drink newly arrived in Europe from Turkey coffee.
This small body-colour drawing shows an anonymous and so its safe to assume fairly typical coffeehouse from around 1700. English coffeehouses in the 17th and 18th centuries were public social places where men would meet for conversation and commerce. Coffee has had many uses through history from spiritual intoxicant to erotic stimulant.
In continental Europe cafes serve alcoholic drinksA coffeehouse may also serve food such as light snacks sandwiches muffins fruit or pastries.
William Urwin opened his new coffee house at No1 Bow Street on the corner of Russell Street in 1671 and Wills Coffee House established itself as one of the best-known in London of the period becoming a favourite of John Dryden the well-known playwright and poet. Turks Head coffeehouse image at right bore the same name as numerous coffee houses and clubs. Franz Georg Kolschitzky claimed the coffee as the spoils of war and opened a coffee house. For the price of a penny customers purchased a cup of coffee and admission.