Intense, vivid smell and pleasant taste are the first sensations that wrap around us whenever coffee is mentioned. The word coffee, in fact, immediately conjures up the idea of the steaming cup, just taken out of the espresso machine. However, coffee is not just a drink, but an ensemble of emotions, history, culture, and taste, linked to the very evolution of our society. It is no coincidence that coffee is one of the most consumed beverages in the world and appreciated everywhere. The spread of coffee is closely linked to the history of the literary café: it was from these establishments that people got into the habit of socialising and exchanging ideas in front of a hot cup of coffee.
Born in France in the late 17th and early 18th century, literary cafés were places where intellectuals met to discuss current issues, such as politics or economics, and topics of cultural value such as art, literature, theatre, and philosophy.
In the home of the literary café, therefore, sipping coffee was an opportunity to engage with others, to develop new ideas and to increase one’s knowledge. Starting in Paris, such cafés also began to spring up in the rest of Europe and America. From France and England, the literary café soon reached Venice and then spread throughout the peninsula.
Prominent personalities in the world of culture passed through these historic cafés: in France, the first frequenters of philosophical cafés were the Enlightenment; in England, coffee houses welcomed poets, intellectuals and businessmen; in Italy, Casanova and D’Annunzio were among the most famous guests of literary cafés.
We who know about cafés, therefore, could not fail to make an excursus into the history of the literary café. We set out to discover these places of taste and culture.
What is the Literary Café
A fascinating place steeped in culture, the literary café has a long historical tradition dating back to the late 1600s. At that time, cafés were meeting places for intellectuals, artists and writers, who met to exchange opinions, experiences and information on anything of cultural interest.
The people who entered the cafés were eager to learn and participate in the intellectual dimension of the time, to evolve, increase their culture and – why not? – refresh themselves.
Inside the literary cafés, it was possible to watch artistic performances or participate in cultural activities, in the sense of readings or performances by artists.
Although the participants came from wealthy classes, the atmosphere was informal and bohemian, so that a good number of people were involved in the various occasions. In the literary café, culture and personal experiences met, reading a book in a group, discussing current affairs or observing an exhibited work.
The motive was very simple: to have a coffee or enjoy a hot drink with loved ones or other intellectuals, savouring the uniqueness of the setting.
When and where the Literary Café was born
The history of the literary café began shortly before 1700 in Europe, where these establishments became a symbol of innovation and the cultural movement in progress. The most important historical moment for the development of the literary café is the early part of the 18th century, when the first Enlightenment artists began to gravitate to cafés. The ideas that were disseminated were those of freedom and equality, the cardinal principles of Enlightenment thought.
However, it was not until 1800 that the literary café became a meeting place for lovers of culture, literature, and art.
The literary café originated in France, where the concept of the café as a meeting point gradually expanded enormously. Among the most famous French cafés are Café de Procope, Café de Flore and Café des Deux Magots.
In Italy, the first literary café seems to have been the Café Florian in Venice, but other famous places are the Café degli Svizzeri in Turin and the Café Biffi in Milan.
It was in the atmosphere of the cafés that some of the most important painting movements in the history of art, such as the French Surrealists and the Italian Futurists, met.
Where was the first literary café in Europe born?
Historically, the birth of the literary café is located in France. It seems that the first literary café, in fact, was Café Le Procope in Paris, founded by the Italian Francesco Procopio dei Coltelli. Café Le Procope is considered by many historians to be the oldest in Europe.
Some of the most important figures of the French Revolution, such as Robespierre, Danton, Marat, and Diderot, used to meet here. Other well-known patrons of the historic café included La Fontaine, Voltaire, Napoleon, Honoré de Balzac, Victor Hugo, George Sand, Paul Verlaine and Anatole France.
Coffee and Enlightenment
Thanks to the literary cafés, Enlightenment culture quickly spread, spreading ideas of equality and freedom more widely and deeply. The literary café soon became an expression of a society in which people were not distinguished according to social class or membership of the nobility. The classical division into classes was lost in favour of a broader idea, in which the distinction was made according to intelligence and creativity.
One of the most heartfelt expressions of the link between coffee and the Enlightenment was the Italian Enlightenment magazine ‘Il caffè’. The periodical, founded by Pietro Verri, recounted how exchanges of opinion took place within cafés, showing their dynamics and giving space to the ideas of those who took part in them.
The oldest café in Italy: Caffè Florian Venezia
Characterised by its elegant and refined architecture, the Caffè Florian in Venice is one of the oldest literary cafés in the world, together with the Café Le Procope in Paris. Located in the very central Piazza San Marco, the Venetian literary café has hosted the famous adventurer Giacomo Casanova, as well as important writers such as Ugo Foscolo, Proust, Byron and Goethe.
Inaugurated in 1720, the café celebrated the proclamation of the rebirth of the Republic of St Mark. In addition, the first edition of the Venice Biennale was held within its walls in 1895.
The famous café in St Mark’s Square is also appreciated for the extraordinary beauty of its interior, as well as for the illustrious personalities it has hosted.
Among the oldest literary cafés in Italy are Caffè Giubbe Rosse in Florence, Antico Caffè Greco in Rome and Caffè Gambrinus in Naples.
The Literary Café in France and England
When discussing the history of the literary café, we cannot but dwell on France and England, where these venues quickly spread and became the focus of a true cultural revolution.
In the two countries, the evolution of the literary café was different but, in each case, profoundly influenced the development of artistic and literary currents of great value. From these two countries, the culture of the literary café was also transmitted to other places, contributing to the cultural and intellectual growth of society.
In the French capital, the opening of the first club in the early 1700s was followed by numerous openings, so that by the end of the century, there were more than three thousand literary cafés only in Paris. The idea of the French literary café was inextricably linked to culture and the café was the ideal meeting place for intellectuals of all social classes, who discussed philosophy, art and literature. One of the favoured topics was politics: in the philosophical cafés of Paris, Enlightenment philosophy widespread, based on concepts such as intellect, freedom and equality.
The English understanding of literary cafés was quite different from that of Paris. Even in England, the first coffee houses were opened in the early 1700s, with the idea of hosting intellectuals, entrepreneurs, merchants and literati. Sitting in front of a hot drink, they dealt with cultural and topical subjects (politics, economics), but the literary café also hosted decidedly easier topics such as sport and fashion. One of the favourite topics of coffee house patrons was gossip.
The literary café today: satisfying mind and body is back in fashion
For the last twenty years or so, clubs, cafés and bars with shelves full of books have started to appear in several cities. The desire is to offer people not just a drink to sip at the table, but a fulfilling drinking experience. Customers can sit and spend an indefinite time at the table, without anyone disturbing them.
Clearly the differences with the literary cafés of the 18th century are numerous, but the idea of combining food and wine with culture is still valid. People go to today’s literary cafés to disconnect from the technology that pervades today’s society and immerse themselves in a lighter, more lively atmosphere.
They are mostly book cafés, where customers can buy books freely or borrow them. The idea, taken up in many parts of Italy (an example is the Feltrinelli bistros and cafeterias) comes from New York, where many managers provide their customers with books to make their stay in the premises more pleasant. The concept revolving around these establishments is that if you want to drink a good coffee, you should do it with the right machine but also in a comfortable and immersive environment.
Conclusion
But does it still make sense to talk about literary cafés today?
Those who have had the good fortune to savour the ambience of a literary café have no doubt: literary cafés still make sense today, indeed even more so since social gatherings and cultural experiences are becoming increasingly rare.
Literary cafés can be an excellent opportunity to create and consolidate a community of people who share similar interests. The important thing is to be able to bring the basic idea up to date, declining it in an engaging and lively manner. The rooms can become spaces for book presentations, small art exhibitions can be organised on the walls or shelves, and the rooms could be the setting for readings or small theatre performances.
In short, the literary café is by no means an outdated idea to be shelved but represents a historical and cultural heritage that should be preserved and enhanced.
To build your personal literary café, where you can relax, read or discuss the evolution of society, discover the right coffee machine for you. On our site you will find both coffee machines for bars and smaller lever coffee machines designed for home use. In addition to the unique flavour, what will amaze you is the vintage design, imagining the atmosphere of 18th century literary cafés.