Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1858-06-05
Coffee-Curious History of its Use.

From Venice, coffee was introduced to Eng
land, France, and Holland. The first public
coilee-house was opened in London in the year
1852 few years afterwards a second appeared
in Paris and third in Amsterdam. Not how
ever, until the year 1902, was coffee known in
Germany; it was imported from Holland already
roasted. The first public coffee house was cs.
tabllshed at Leipzig, in the year 1870, which,
no doubt, is the Oldest coffee house in the world
and 1t is even at the present day a place of
public amusement. Two circumstances contrib
uted principally to make coffee general beve-
rage in Germany: firstly, that coffee was excep-
ted by the government from the taxes laid on
beer and wine; and secondly, the powers of cof.
fee to produce an agreeable excitement without
producing intoxication. These qualities made
1t the most agreeable to ladies and business
men. The Jews in Germany, known to be the
most active merchants, became exceedingly fond
of this enlivening beverage, and also the poets.
1t Is well known story, that Rosseau, once on
visit TO soltairc, remarked to the latter that
coffee was poison. Voltaire replied: True,
but poison that affects the health very slowly,
as have been drinking it for sixty years"
The greatest opponents to coffee drinking are
the homeopathic doctors, who consider coffee as
most injurious ts the health. Indeed it is, to
nervous people, particularly strong coffee; also
to dyspePiics 1t may prove not digsstible, but in
the latter case, its Indigestion arises from the
| impure milk which is mixed with it,
The French and Germans drink more black
coffee than white, and take soon afterward a
( glass Of pure cold water, and that custom is one
which it would be useful TO adopt in this country
as in this manner coffee is not injurious to ple-
thoric people; il they drink only small quan,i-
! ty OF it. 1t serves under this condition 10 aid
digestion, and to enliven the spirits. To young
. l. 10 l.
which is used for them in Germany. There is
often added TO coffee roasted roots, that OF
succory OF carrot, for instance which dmnishes
the flavor. Roasted beans of cocoa, on the
other hand, are most healthy and palatabe il
mixed with coffee. The Turks add different
spices, and the French pour rum in it, as do also
the Italians and Germans; and they use some
times the yolk Of an egg instead OF cream, which
is commendabe where there is no good milk to
be found Particular care is every where taken
except in this country, not TO roast or grind cot
fee before il is wanted for immediate use, other
wise it loses by exhalatlon the volatile oil which
| imparts such an excellent favor to it.
The smoke of roasted coffee is one of the most
powerful disinfectants. Coffee is also anti.
dote TO poisons of opium, cherry laurel, and in
toxieation. The consumption of coffee is from
year to year increasing. In Europe alone, fol
instance, the importation in period of ter
years, from 1917 to 1927, increased from oil,
hundred and sixty millions to two hundred ant
twenty-five millions of pounds,
The coffee tree reaches a height of twenty
feet, has with its branches pyramdal forme,
evergreen leaves, and is considered one of th'
most beautiful of trees. In the third year
Yields three pounds of beans. In highest esti
nation, concerning the quality, stands Moch'
coffee, from Arabia; next to ii 81. Domingo
Java, st. Jago de Cuba, and then Rio, of Brazi
and Cuba. However, one kind is found NOR
palatabe in one country than another, and dii
ierent nations give preference to different kim
of coffee. ...