Coffee has been around for hundreds of years and its consumption has been associated with the various cultural and social practices across centuries. Did the Romans drink coffee though? This is often a source of debate as there is no clear-cut answer to it. It is generally believed that the Romans conceptualized the concept of consuming coffee, however, the lack of archaeological and written evidence suggests that actual consumption was not made until much later in time.
The earliest suggested reference to coffee is the Latin name for coffee, cahuita, which means “brewed from the bean”. This term was first used in 81 CE by naturalist Pliny the Elder’s Naturalis Historia where he describes a group of plants in the Middle East. Whilst this may suggest that the Romans were familiar with the concept of coffee, there is no available evidence of any significant consumption happening within the Roman Empire.
Historians agree that coffee had been consumed in the Middle East for centuries prior to it reaching Europe, yet there is very little archaeological evidence of its presence within the Roman Empire. Rome’s expansive trade network and the presence of merchants from the Middle East in the city make it difficult to rule out the possibility that coffee beans reached the Roman capital. Plus, the obscurity of much of the evidence that is available means that it is almost impossible to determine with absolute certainty.
Similarly ambiguous is the speculation that the Romans adopted their beverage knowledge from outside territories. Coffee has been noted as a commodity to be imported into the ancient Roman capital, however there is no record of the actual consumption of it. It certainly would have been plausible, considering the Romans were keen importers of luxury goods, but this notion is also largely unverifiable.
In examining the potential consumption of coffee by the Romans, it seems that the majority of historians agree that the drink was not consumed in its liquid form. Depending on the source and cultural context, however, some scholars suggest that alternative forms of consumption, such as chewing the bean or using its leaves for medicinal purposes, do have historic evidence backing that consumption by the ancient Romans may have occurred.
It is difficult to get rid of doubts and certainties that the Romas actually consumed coffee, in any form. Without definitive evidence, all that is left is speculation. Therefore, it remains very difficult to say for certain whether the Romans did or did not partake in the beverage.
Concepts of Coffee
Although, there is evidence to suggest that coffee was studied and even served by the Romans. As Roman philosopher Pliny the Elder described the beverage as an “Arabian wine”, it is possible that they were aware of the stimulating effects of coffee. The popularity of coffee in the East was already well established and its potential as a medicinal treatment was already established within Ancient Rome’s medical texts.
The Roman physician Aulus Cornelius Celsus suggested that coffee could help against headaches and a variety of medical issues. He also noted it as a diuretic. In some of their texts, the Romans described the beverage as aqua mirabilis and believed that it had medicinal effects. Also, the Romans wrote of a certain bitter herb that had a strong, aromatic taste and was “very pleasurable to the stomach”.
It can be said that the Romans conceptualized coffee, rather than simply drank it. The knowledge that they had of its medicinal effects points to this fact, though its usage was not widespread at the time. It is, however, possible that some of the Romans did consume coffee given that traveling merchants from the Middle East at times sold it in the city.
Arabic Influence
The potential arrival of coffee to the Roman Empire is due largely to its presence in the neighboring territories such as the Arabian Peninsula. Evidence seems to suggest that coffee was already consumed in Yemen and East Africa long prior to its presence in Europe. The travels of the many travelers, merchants and traders to the Middle East would have thus exposed to the Romans the idea of coffee.
Given that Yemen was part of the Ottoman Empire, it is possible that coffee entered the Roman Empire with the Ottomans. This suggests that coffee might have arrived in the city as early as the 14th century. It must have been around this time that those in Rome first became aware of the drink.
In the centuries leading up to the 16th century, term for coffee known as caffa was mentioned in various Italian centers, however this does not imply that its usage was widespread. Evidence does suggest that it was available in certain cities and that certain individuals were aware of its presence.
Coffee Expansion
Whether the Romans actually partook in the beverage or not, it is clear that they had knowledge of it and even its possible medicinal effects. Despite the absence of evidence, it is plausible to suggest that it did indeed find its way to Rome well before the 16th century. If it did, it is likely that it was consumed in limited areas and in small quantities.
Areas such as Turkey and Ethiopia were likely the sources of the beverage in the area and it is these regions that played a key role in the spread of coffee. With the fall of Constantinople in 1453, the drink began its spread across Europe, the Middle East and then eventually to the Americas.
Despite the obscurity of the evidence, it is highly possible that the Romans had knowledge about the beverage and even partook in it in some form. But its consumption during this era is highly debated and unverifiable. What is certain, however, is that it was the Turkish and Ethiopian traders that played a major part in its spread and proliferation throughout history.
Coffee Adoption
The Egyptians were the first to introduce the idea of coffee consumption to Europe, suggesting that the story of coffee consumption in Rome began in Cairo, its neighbor at the time. From there, the spread of coffee across Europe was relatively swift, with consumption having reached England by the early 1600’s.
It is worth noting that the idea of coffee consumption within the Roman Empire came much later with the spread of the British Empire. At this time, the British brought with them their own interpretation of the beverage, relying heavily on the labors of their colonial subjects from India and Africa. Although the Italians had their own interpretation of the drink that was quite distinct from Britain’s version, the British version eventually prevailed and the majority of coffee consumption across Italy today finds its roots in the former British colonies.
It is evident that coffee was not available in its liquid form within the Roman Empire and even if it was, it was certainly not common. Undoubtedly, the modern practice of coffee drinking, as popularized by the popular cultures and brands of today, remain entirely mysterious to the Ancient Romans.
Coffee Speculation
It is reasonable to assume that the Romans were aware of coffee and its properties, yet the evidence suggests that it never made an impact in the Roman Empire. This does not mean that coffee did not exist within the Roman Empire, only that there is scant evidence to support its presence.
As a result, it is merely speculative that certain forms of coffee consumption did not take place among the various cultural groups within the Roman Empire. As there is no evidence of actual coffee consumption, it is too difficult to speculate on what its effects would have been and whether it made an impact on the civilization.
Contemporary Coffee
Today, coffee has become a significant part of the cultural and social practices of people, with some cultures having even adopted it as part of their daily rituals. While the Romans did not necessarily engage in the practice of coffee drinking as we do today, they did have knowledge of it and its potential.
Undoubtedly, the knowledge of coffee and its properties eventually spread further down to Europe and the Americas, leading to its modern iterations as popularized by global brands. Until more evidence is uncovered, however, it will remain uncertain as to whether or not the Romans actually consumed coffee in its liquid form.
Roman Relations
Though expansive trade networks existed between the Middle East and Rome, it seems that coffee was not popularized in the Roman Empire. While there are some references to the drink, it is unclear as to how widespread its use was.
This warrants speculation, especially considering the fact that the Romans were aware of coffee and its potential effects. Yet, they seem to have not embraced it and its usage remained very limited in the Roman Empire.
Roman Legacy
It is clear, therefore, that the Romans had knowledge of coffee but that the beverage was not sentimentalized in the same way it is today. Yet the knowledge of coffee, and its potential, would have impacted the later generations with subsequent generations utilizing this knowledge for their own gain.
For instance, it is at this time that the various Italian centers became hubs for the production, transportation and consumption of coffee. It is by no means clear, however, as to exactly when the Roman Empire began consuming coffee and in what forms, but it is plausible that the knowledge was there.
Coffee Classification
The Romans were certainly aware of coffee and its potential but they did not embrace it and popularize it in the same way that we do today. Nonetheless, the beverage continues to play a major role in many societies, with the Middle East and East Africa still producing some of the world’s finest quality coffees.
The modern categorization of coffee, such as the diffentiation between Robusta and Arabica varieties, are rooted not in Roman history but in the subequent post-Roman era. This further suggests that the Romans were not largely active in the consumption of coffee, at least not in the same way that it is consumed today.
Overall Assessment
It is safe to say that, through various archaeological and written records, the Romans had knowledge of coffee and its potential purposes. There is, however, no direct evidence of the Roman consumption of it in its liquid form. The lack of archaeological evidence suggests that it likely was not a popular beverage amongst the Roman Empire.
The scant evidence available does point to the possibility that certain forms of consumption, such as medicinal treatments, did occur. Thus, it is reasonable to assume that the Romans were indeed aware of coffee, but whether they consumed it in any significant amounts remains to be discovered.
