Coffee houses

When you think of a coffee house, the first thing, which might come to mind, would be a cozy place serving gourmet coffees and espressos, couches to lounge on while you sip your coffee and maybe engage in a conversation with a friend or read a good book. Have you every thought about how coffee houses got there start?

One of the first coffee houses, which publicly served coffee, was the Kiva Ham in Constantinople now known as Istanbul. To the Turks coffee was such an important part of their life a women could legally divorce her husband for not supplying her with enough coffee. Turkish coffee was made to be served strong, black and unfiltered. Coffee was usually made in an ibrik.

In Europe it became fashionable to add sweetener and milk to coffee. This practice started in the first coffee shop opened in Europe around 1529. The Turkish army invaded Vienna leaving behind bags of coffee beans when they fled. Franz Georg Kolschitzky had apparently lived in Turkey and was the only person who knew what the beans were. He claimed the bags of coffee beans as the spoils of war and opened up a coffee house. He came up with the idea of filtering coffee along with the notion of adding sweetener and milk. The coffee was a hit in Vienna and after the serving sweet pastries and other treats the coffee house business soared.

The establishment continued to spread, with the opening of the first one in England in 1652. Coffee popularity in England was growing when the idea arrived again only this time from Turkey. An English coffee house was the first to use the word “tips” meaning gratuities. In the coffee house a jar was placed on the counter with the sign reading “To ensure proper service”. A customer would place a coin in the jar to get fast service.

The British had a nickname for their coffee houses. They called them “penny universities” mainly because that was the price of the coffee and the social upper class of businessmen were found there. One small coffee house was run by Edward Lloyd attracted the business clientèle. The idea spread through out Europe. Italy opened its first coffee house in 1654 and in Paris in 1672. Germany opened its first coffee house in 1673. The coffee houses came to America shortly after the Americas were colonized. The coffee houses in America were the hot spots for the business community just as they were in Europe. New York was the location of the first coffee house for the New York Stock Exchange. A lot of business took place at this location.

For years regular coffee was all that was served in coffee houses, then along came espresso. Gaggia invented the commercial piston espresso machine in 1946. This machine was much easier and safer to use than the earlier models. These machines were first used in the Gaggia coffee bar in Italy. They offered espresso along with the regular coffee. The coffee houses of today were born.

Coffee franchises have taken over in small business today as we know it. Every corner in every major city has a coffee house, most of these coffee houses are linked through coffee franchises. 81% of Americans will have been in at least 5 different coffee franchises in their lifetime.2.5% of the stock market are cornered by such businesses like the basic coffee house. We the public has definitely benefited from large coffee franchises, as they have benefited from us.

Small Business vs. Franchise Each has its own benefit. A small business owner has a lower overhead. This is ideal for profit margins. A single coffee house owner can expect to have up to 4 employees, this would be ideal, and they can maintain business with this type of crew. The average pay that a single coffee house owner can expect to pay out per employee could be anywhere from $5.75 an hour -$6.50 an hour. Usually a small business owner of this type can afford to hire part-time employees, therefore saving oneself the added costs of health benefit. Accidental insurance coverage for this low ratio will also be feasible. A coffee franchise has the benefit of name recognition. Everyone who is an avid coffee drinker has their favorite name brand coffee house. This makes availability for name product sales.

There are big tax breaks for large coffee franchises. This also makes room for more revenue, and having more revenue allows for a large company to hire more part-time employees. Having more employees has the benefit of making more products, and being able to sustain a larger clientele. To Each His Own If you ask your 80 year old next door neighbor if he or she prefers a large coffee franchise cup of coffee or the local small business owner’s cup, you may find that they will likely support the local favorite, the small business owner. There is some loyalty to the small business men and women today. Now ask the same question to a college student, who has just enough time to run to the corner (very accessible) large coffee franchise, which cup they prefer, you will likely hear them say the convenient, trendy coffee franchise. Not that the college student is less loyal, but maybe the new thing is a little more popular and a little more accessible. Now every one person must decide for themselves which is best for them, to support the larger business, or the smaller business. No matter which you choose, there will always be a new trend in java.

Small Business vs. Franchise

Each has its own benefit. A small business owner has a lower overhead. This is ideal for profit margins. A single coffee house owner can expect to have up to 4 employees, this would be ideal, and they can maintain business with this type of crew. The average pay that a single coffee house owner can expect to pay out per employee could be anywhere from $5.75 an hour -$6.50 an hour. Usually a small business owner of this type can afford to hire part-time employees, therefore saving oneself the added costs of health benefit. Accidental insurance coverage for this low ratio will also be feasible. A coffee franchise has the benefit of name recognition. Everyone who is an avid coffee drinker has their favorite name brand coffee house. This makes availability for name product sales. There are big tax breaks for large coffee franchises. This also makes room for more revenue, and having more revenue allows for a large company to hire more part-time employees. Having more employees has the benefit of making more products, and being able to sustain a larger clientele.

To Each His Own

If you ask your 80 year old next door neighbor if he or she prefers a large coffee franchise cup of coffee or the local small business owner’s cup, you may find that they will likely support the local favorite, the small business owner. There is some loyalty to the small business men and women today. Now ask the same question to a college student, who has just enough time to run to the corner (very accessible) large coffee franchise, which cup they prefer, you will likely hear them say the convenient, trendy coffee franchise. Not that the college student is less loyal, but maybe the new thing is a little more popular and a little more accessible. Now every one person must decide for themselves which is best for them, to support the larger business, or the smaller business. No matter which you choose, there will always be a new trend in java.

The coffee shop concept is the most usual thing these days. At nearly every corner of a street you run into a place where for a couple of dollars you can buy yourself a nice, hot cup of coffee. But few people know the actual story, tradition and social side of coffee shops or coffee houses, as they are also called. Let’s take a trip back in time and see where it all began.

Coffee these days is something as usual as waking up in the morning and smelling its hot flavor. But it hasn’t always been like this. Coffee has a story of its own, dating back all the way to the ninth century Africa. As centuries passed, it spread throughout the world, growing in popularity as it became not less of a delicatessen, but less unusual.

The traditional tale points out that the first coffee house was founded in the late 17th century Vienna. After their defeat in the Great Battle of Vienna (1683), the Turks left behind sacks of “green beans”, which were assumed by the victorious Polish king at that time, Jan III Sobieski. He passed them on to one of his officers, who founded the first coffee house, in Vienna. Historically speaking, the first house was opened in the late 15th century Istanbul, in the year 1457. By the 16th century, there were many similar houses in Egypt. The 17th century gave way to the opening of coffee houses in Europe as well.

The coffee house served as an exotic gathering place, where people socialized, read books and listened to music while drinking coffee or tea, all in a special atmosphere with a great sense of taste. Also, many houses served meals and even alcohol and tobacco. They were a great environment for the gentlemen’s business gatherings and later on lead to the apparition of “clubs”. Concerning ladies, at first they were prohibited to visit these places and instead special posts were created to provide them with hot coffee.

Nowadays, a coffee shop is the most usual thing and it is less about luxury or any kind of special status. Still, coffee shops continue to offer a great environment for people to get to know each other and expand their social as well as their personal agenda. The best known coffee shop chain is Starbucks, which started in Seattle, USA. Other contemporary shops that sell coffee don’t give that much attention to the traditional side anymore as they have a wider array of products among which coffee still holds a place.

Many people associate coffee shops with diners, pubs or taverns and so on but if you desire, there are still plenty of traditional shops or houses around and the Internet could prove itself very useful in the search for them. There are many sites specialized in this matter that will easily point you to a coffee house and also advise you in other coffee-regarding matters. It’s quick and easy. I’ll give you a hint: talkaboutcoffee.com. It’s a FREE site that doesn’t require membership and has plenty of information concerning everything you need to know about flavor, varieties of coffee and even tips & tricks about how to brew it yourself in the comfort of your own home.

The site is user-friendly and the most important features are clearly highlighted so that you find everything easy. Here you can find information about the history and varieties of the coffee culture, but also information regarding how it’s stored, processed, roasted and finally grinded into various blends. You are provided with numerous hints, so that it will be easy for you to maximize your coffee experience.

And finally, there is a whole column designated to finding the best coffee house near you, clearly highlighted so that if you sometimes want to experience new blends and grinds you won’t have to spend anymore time searching. A few clicks and you have a list of the best coffee shops in your local area. It’s quick and easy.

Coffee franchises have taken over in small business today as we know it. Every corner in every major city has a coffee house, most of these coffee houses are linked through coffee franchises. 81% of Americans will have been in at least 5 different coffee franchises in their lifetime.2.5% of the stock market are cornered by such businesses like the basic coffee house. We the public has definitely benefited from large coffee franchises, as they have benefited from us.

Small Business vs. Franchise Each has its own benefit. A small business owner has a lower overhead. This is ideal for profit margins. A single coffee house owner can expect to have up to 4 employees, this would be ideal, and they can maintain business with this type of crew. The average pay that a single coffee house owner can expect to pay out per employee could be anywhere from $5.75 an hour -$6.50 an hour. Usually a small business owner of this type can afford to hire part-time employees, therefore saving oneself the added costs of health benefit. Accidental insurance coverage for this low ratio will also be feasible. A coffee franchise has the benefit of name recognition. Everyone who is an avid coffee drinker has their favorite name brand coffee house. This makes availability for name product sales.

There are big tax breaks for large coffee franchises. This also makes room for more revenue, and having more revenue allows for a large company to hire more part-time employees. Having more employees has the benefit of making more products, and being able to sustain a larger clientele. To Each His Own If you ask your 80 year old next door neighbor if he or she prefers a large coffee franchise cup of coffee or the local small business owner’s cup, you may find that they will likely support the local favorite, the small business owner. There is some loyalty to the small business men and women today. Now ask the same question to a college student, who has just enough time to run to the corner (very accessible) large coffee franchise, which cup they prefer, you will likely hear them say the convenient, trendy coffee franchise. Not that the college student is less loyal, but maybe the new thing is a little more popular and a little more accessible. Now every one person must decide for themselves which is best for them, to support the larger business, or the smaller business. No matter which you choose, there will always be a new trend in java.

Small Business vs. Franchise

Each has its own benefit. A small business owner has a lower overhead. This is ideal for profit margins. A single coffee house owner can expect to have up to 4 employees, this would be ideal, and they can maintain business with this type of crew. The average pay that a single coffee house owner can expect to pay out per employee could be anywhere from $5.75 an hour -$6.50 an hour. Usually a small business owner of this type can afford to hire part-time employees, therefore saving oneself the added costs of health benefit. Accidental insurance coverage for this low ratio will also be feasible. A coffee franchise has the benefit of name recognition. Everyone who is an avid coffee drinker has their favorite name brand coffee house. This makes availability for name product sales. There are big tax breaks for large coffee franchises. This also makes room for more revenue, and having more revenue allows for a large company to hire more part-time employees. Having more employees has the benefit of making more products, and being able to sustain a larger clientele.

To Each His Own

If you ask your 80 year old next door neighbor if he or she prefers a large coffee franchise cup of coffee or the local small business owner’s cup, you may find that they will likely support the local favorite, the small business owner. There is some loyalty to the small business men and women today. Now ask the same question to a college student, who has just enough time to run to the corner (very accessible) large coffee franchise, which cup they prefer, you will likely hear them say the convenient, trendy coffee franchise. Not that the college student is less loyal, but maybe the new thing is a little more popular and a little more accessible. Now every one person must decide for themselves which is best for them, to support the larger business, or the smaller business. No matter which you choose, there will always be a new trend in java.

Coffee franchises have taken over in small business today as we know it. Every corner in every major city has a coffee house, most of these coffee houses are linked through coffee franchises. 81% of Americans will have been in at least 5 different coffee franchises in their lifetime.2.5% of the stock market are cornered by such businesses like the basic coffee house. We the public has definitely benefited from large coffee franchises, as they have benefited from us.?

Small Business vs. Franchise

Each has its own benefit. A small business owner has a lower overhead. This is ideal for profit margins. A single coffee house owner can expect to have up to 4 employees, this would be ideal, and they can maintain business with this type of crew. The average pay that a single coffee house owner can expect to pay out per employee could be anywhere from $5.75 an hour -$6.50 an hour. Usually a small business owner of this type can afford to hire part-time employees, therefore saving oneself the added costs of health benefit.

Accidental insurance coverage for this low ratio will also be feasible. A coffee franchise has the benefit of name recognition. Everyone who is an avid coffee drinker has their favorite name brand coffee house. This makes availability for name product sales. There are big tax breaks for large coffee franchises. This also makes room for more revenue, and having more revenue allows for a large company to hire more part-time employees. Having more employees has the benefit of making more produc
ts, and being able to sustain a larger clientele.

To Each His Own

If you ask your 80 year old next door neighbor if he or she prefers a large coffee franchise cup of coffee or the local small business owner's cup, you may find that they will likely support the local favorite, the small business owner. There is some loyalty to the small business men and women today. Now ask the same question to a college student, who has just enough time to run to the corner (very accessible) large coffee franchise, which cup they prefer, you will likely hear them say the convenient, trendy coffee franchise.

Not that the college student is less loyal, but maybe the new thing is a little more popular and a little more accessible. Now every one person must decide for themselves which is best for them, to support the larger business, or the smaller business. No matter which you choose, there will always be a new trend in java.

The European travelers to the Near East brought back stories of the dark black beverage called “coffee.” By the 17th century, coffee was in Europe and continued to become popular across the continent. Some who were against coffee called the beverage “bitter invention of Satan.” When coffee reached Venice in 1615, the local clergy condemned it. It started such a stir among the people that Pope Clement VIII was asked to intervene. Before the Pope made his decision, however, he tried the beverage of coffee and found the drink satisfying. He then gave his approval of coffee.

Controversy continued in the major cities of England, Austria, France, Germany and Holland, however, coffee houses also continued and were becoming centers of social activity and communication that a lot of people really enjoyed. There were over 300 coffee houses in London by the mid-17th century. Many of these coffee houses attracted groups of people with common interests such as merchants, shippers, brokers and artists.

Other businesses grew out of these specialized coffee houses, one of which was, “Lloyd’s of London. Lloyd’s of London was crated at the Edward Lloyd’s Coffee House.

Coffee houses began to rapidly appear, however, tea continued to be the favored drink in the New World until 1773. The colonists rebelled against a heavy tax placed on tea by King George. This rebellion turned into what is now known as the Boston Tea Party.”

The Boston Tea Party forever changed the American drinking preferences from tea to “coffee.”

Today, The National Coffee Association is committed to the well being of the entire coffee industry, which includes coffee companies big and small. In more recent years the NCA strives to provide more valuable benefits to small business members which include:

• Micro roasters
• Small chain
• Single store coffee cafes
• Small lot importers or growers

Coffee has become a staple for coffee houses, coffee cafes and restaurants worldwide. Coffee shops and houses still remain a place of relaxation, socialization and entertainment.

Source: The National Coffee Association

This article is FREE to publish with the resource box.

By: Connie Limon -

Coffee houses, when you think about it, are very similar to bars and restaurants. Providing coffee, tea, light snacks and lunch type food they offer a great mishmash of both. Besides serving food and beverages, coffee houses are great places to interact socially with other people, read, write, do homework or just pass time.

While one would typically think that coffee houses started in Italy, but that isn't the case. In fact, since the 16th century they've been prominent in the Middle East. People would go to them to drink coffee or tea, listen to music, play games like chess and backgammon and read.

In 1530, the first coffee house opened in Damascus. Shortly thereafter, others started springing up in places like Cairo and Istanbul.

It wasn't until the 17th century that coffee first made an appearance in Europe. The first recorded coffee house in Italy opened shop in 1645. This was followed by the first coffee house in England, in Oxford, in 1650. After that, they spread like wildfire, hitting America in 1670 in Boston.

Charles II wasn't a fan of coffee houses, and tried to discourage people in London from going to them by characterizing them as places where the disaffected met and spread scandalous reports concerning the conduct of His Majesty and his Ministers. Instead of keeping people away, people flocked to them.

Coffee houses were open to people of all socioeconomic backgrounds, and became associated with equality. That said, women weren't allowed into them.

Later on, this obviously ceased to be the case. In American coffee houses in the 1960s, musicians and poets had found a home. Bob Dylan got his start running the coffee house circuit, as did the Beats. Also, many churches used them for outreach purposes, gaining membership and spreading the word of God.

Early coffee houses quickly became an important center for exchange of information, so much so, that they were often referred to as "Schools of the Wise."

The European travelers to the Near East brought back stories of the dark black beverage called "coffee." By the 17th century, coffee was in Europe and continued to become popular across the continent. Some who were against coffee called the beverage "bitter invention of Satan." When coffee reached Venice in 1615, the local clergy condemned it. It started such a stir among the people that Pope Clement VIII was asked to intervene. Before the Pope made his decision, however, he tried the beverage of coffee and found the drink satisfying. He then gave his approval of coffee.

Controversy continued in the major cities of England, Austria, France, Germany and Holland, however, coffee houses also continued and were becoming centers of social activity and communication that a lot of people really enjoyed. There were over 300 coffee houses in London by the mid-17th century. Many of these coffee houses attracted groups of people with common interests such as merchants, shippers, brokers and artists.

Other businesses grew out of these specialized coffee houses, one of which was, "Lloyd's of London. Lloyd's of London was crated at the Edward Lloyd's Coffee House.

Coffee houses began to rapidly appear, however, tea continued to be the favored drink in the New World until 1773. The colonists rebelled against a heavy tax placed on tea by King George. This rebellion turned into what is now known as the Boston Tea Party."

The Boston Tea Party forever changed the American drinking preferences from tea to "coffee."

Today, The National Coffee Association is committed to the well being of the entire coffee industry, which includes coffee companies big and small. In more recent years the NCA strives to provide more valuable benefits to small business members which include:

• Micro roasters
• Small chain
• Single store coffee cafes
• Small lot importers or growers

Coffee has become a staple for coffee houses, coffee cafes and restaurants worldwide. Coffee shops and houses still remain a place of relaxation, socialization and entertainment.

Source: The National Coffee Association

This article is FREE to publish with the resource box.