Tuesday, August 19, 2008


from google images, click to enlarge

In 1686, an Italian opened the first real Parisian Cafe,
Cafe de Procope which still exists as a restaurant.

Coffee drinking became fashionable and chic.

This cafe attracted artists, authors,
poets, actors and musicians.

A new generation of artistic culture was born.

Coffee was referred to as the intellectual's beverage.




20 comments:

tut-tut said...

I'm enjoying a cup right now . . . hadn't heard that in such a long time. Thanks for putting it up today.

Merle Sneed said...

Coffee is still the preferred drink of smart people everywhere!

The Vogues take me back to my high school days. Thanks for the memories.

Bob Dylan said...

Love the look of those album covers--have you listened to these records?

Bobby D. said...

well of course it's the intellectual's beverage!

Everytime I heAR that vogues song, I can see my sister practicing her "go go dance" routine 3,000 times to the 45. She chose that song for some talent night at a club. When the singers says "there's a long haired girl" she would flip her long hair. The rest of the song she was just hooping around, go go style.

This is one reason I was a tomboy.

Bobby D. said...

I meant hopping around, although there may have been a couple of hip hoops.

oh by the way I am at this moment sipping Cafe Umbria's Gusto Crema Blend. Arabica, free trade organic I think... that's what the sign said anyway.

edward said...

wherever there is people, there is cats, so the cafe must have attracted poets and cats and authors and artists etc

Coffee Messiah said...

t & t: Yea, it's an oldie alright.

merle: Those were some fun days, although I may be only a few years your younger.

bd: When I saw the covers in an antique store, I took them. The vinyl though, well, it didn't look like it would be very nice to the stylus on my turntable......so - No. ; ( I'm sure the Gould was pretty cool though!

ched: Hop, hoop it's all good fun.

edward: I'm sure there were many "cool cats" there also! ; )

mouse (aka kimy) said...

I wish I had known about cafe de procope when I was in paris...should I ever get back (I better)- I will make a pilgrimage to it! according to the portal of all knowledge it is "is the oldest restaurant of Paris."

edward said...

. Coffee, do you have a good recipe for a coffee milkshake. Iced coffee does not please me. but I'm thinking it may be because it's too limp.

Coffee Messiah said...

kimy: I still have never been and would surely make it there, if only to see where a lot of creative energy met.

edward: Sorry, I haven't had a milkshake in years! ; (

Kurt said...

I bought a hand grinder. Am I crazy?

Coffee Messiah said...

kurt: In a word: Yes.

tony said...

i saw this in an English newspaper yesterday + thought of You..........
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-wellbeing/features/the-good-news-about-coffee-901665.html

tony said...

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-wellbeing/features/the-good-news-about-coffee-901665.html"

Mariamariacuchita said...

This post and its lovely pictures makes me want to own a time machine and jet back to this coffee shop to the first day of business.

Anonymous said...

Great pic and great sharing. I wonder if it's still an interesting place to visit. Beyond its history, I mean.

Megan said...

I'm sure this has been covered here before, but I remember reading that the most decried rationing during the 40's was that of coffee.

They could get along without gas, but not without joe...

Coffee Messiah said...

tony: Hey, Thanks.....as old as I am, I've read and heard them all. No matter what, we're going to die of something, it just depends on what your pleasures are. ; )

maria: Despite those times, I believe you're right, energy and creativity was everywhere. Wonder what it all felt like?

decker: I think I would have liked it as it was, compared to how it must be.

megan: Indeed. They even made the worse tasting kind of coffee to at least have it. Thanks for popping in. ; )

N said...

the coffee break poster has stolen my heart. its going as a print at my workstation :)

Coffee Messiah said...

n: were you able to get it large enough? Thanks for stopping by.