How coffee displaced beer from the breakfast table

A fresh coffee for breakfast? Completely normal today. But that wasn't always the case.

For centuries, coffee was considered a luxury product that only the wealthy could afford. For most people, it was unaffordable – and those who did indulge in it drank a very weak version, sometimes even prepared as a coffee soup and kept warm over a fire all day.

From luxury drink to people's drink

Coffee found its way to Europe in the 17th century – via Venice, the gateway to exotic trade routes. From there, the "black gold" quickly conquered the continent. But cultivation was labor-intensive, transport expensive – and so coffee remained a symbol of wealth and good taste for a long time. The coffee houses of Europe were meeting places for high society: businesspeople, artists, and nobles.

In the 18th century, coffee consumption finally began to reach the lower classes – much to the chagrin of German breweries. Beer, the ubiquitous beverage until then, suddenly lost its importance. Instead of the traditional beer soup with bread and grain, many now preferred coffee soup – it was more energizing, even if less nutritious.

Coffee soup – the first “meal” of the day

Coffee soup, also called coffee porridge or coffee mush, consisted of weak coffee or coffee substitute, milk, pieces of bread, and sometimes grain. It often simmered on the stove all day and was a regular part of daily life, especially in the mornings.
Back then, coffee roasts contained significantly more caffeine – so it's no wonder that the new soup quickly became popular.

Frederick the Great and the coffee ban

The growing popularity of coffee did not escape the notice of Frederick the Great. When he realized that the breweries were suffering from the "coffee boom" and that taxes were having no effect, he simply issued a coffee ban in Prussia.
To enforce the regulations, he employed so-called "coffee sniffers"—officials who patrolled the streets, sniffing out the scent of freshly roasted beans. Anyone caught roasting or brewing coffee faced severe penalties.

The price of smuggled, genuine coffee rose rapidly. Many coffee lovers were forced to resort to substitute coffee made from grains or strictly ration their supplies.

From contraband to everyday beverage

Only with technological advances in production, roasting and transport did coffee gradually become cheaper – and affordable for everyone.
Today, it's an indispensable part of our daily lives. We enjoy it without hesitation – fresh, fragrant, and above all: legal.