Coffee House Culture vs. Tavern Culture

It was Jürgen Habermas who made the claim that 18th century English Coffeehouses were the source of important changes in the public sphere. His argument was that coffee culture offered key social benefits when compared to bar (or “tavern” culture). 

Coffeehouses are the birthplace of the public sphere. 

When you think of taverns and bars, the environment is generally darker, louder, and fueled by the conscious diminishing downer that is alcohol. Think downward spiral. 

Cafes, on the other hand, generally are brighter, support discourse and connection, and the main fuel (caffeine) is a stimulant. Think upward spiral! 

According to Habermas, there are some important features of coffeehouse culture that make this insight relevant. In 17th–18th century England (and later France and Germany), coffeehouses became spaces where:

• Private individuals gathered as a public
• Status distinctions were (temporarily) bracketed
• Newspapers and pamphlets were read and debated
• Political authority was discussed and criticized

Habermas calls this the rise of “rational-critical debate.”

The key features:

• Sobriety (coffee, not alcohol)
• Argumentation rather than ritual
• Print culture + conversation
• Accessibility (at least to bourgeois men)

Maybe there is a case to be made that there is cultural benefit to switch up how you spend your time. More time drinking coffee and less time in bars might benefit us all!