I have this romantic image of how coffee houses used to be in centuries past:

Coffee was a rarity, and nobody was drinking at home. There were very few stimulating substances or entertainments around - no spiced food, music on demand, tea, electric lights, etc. Every couple days, people (well, only men, apparently, but that is not part of my story) with time and money to spare would meet at the local coffee house and partake of a magical beverage that would quicken their thinking, brighten their eyes, and inspire spirited discussion of the issues of the time . . .

Of course, coffee loses its ability to inspire when it is consumed too often and tolerance builds up. I appreciate the emphasis on taste that characterizes this forum, but I wonder if that is partly because the most remarkable aspect of coffee - its effect on our mind - is dulled or even absent when it is consumed every day.

I don't want to say that this subject is taboo, but talking about the effects of caffeine seems to trigger a "don't call coffee a drug" response that I think is really unfortunate, as it prevents further discussion of a benign and enjoyable aspect of drinking coffee.

Personally I enjoy coffee most when I drink it about two or three times a week. If one of those cups is drunk with friends, a wide-ranging and interesting conversation will ensue, just like those I imagine took place in the coffeehouses of old.

hbuchtel wrote:I have this romantic image of how coffee houses used to be in centuries past:

Coffee was a rarity, and nobody was drinking at home. There were very few stimulating substances or entertainments around - no spiced food, music on demand, tea, electric lights, etc.

In centuries past, there was spiced food. It was just very expensive. So expensive that even now, in Holland, when we think something is really expensive we call it "peperduur" which translates to "pepper-expensive".

Also, this wiki page is a good read.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_coffee