Quick answerCoffee reached Europe in the early 17th century, mostly through Venetian merchants trading with the Ottoman Empire. The beans came from Yemen via the port of Mocha. Coffee houses opened in Venice, then Oxford and London in the 1650s, followed by Paris and Vienna, becoming centers of conversation, news and business.
Key moments
- Venice: early 1600s, first European imports.
- Oxford 1650s and London 1652: early English coffee houses.
- Paris and Vienna: late 1600s coffee culture.
Yemen at the center
Until coffee was planted in colonies, Europe depended on Yemeni beans.
Frequently asked questions
When did coffee arrive in Europe?
Early 1600s.
Where did the beans come from?
Yemen, shipped from Mocha.
Why were coffee houses important?
They hosted debate, news and trade; some became institutions like insurance markets.
Taste the bean that started it: Mocha Yemeni.
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