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The coffeehouse was central to the ongoing religious
and political discourse in early eighteenth century London. Patrons
of coffeehouses were entertained and educated by these lectures and
demonstrations. These entrepreneurial lecturers, in return, benefited
financially from these 'practical' lectures as well as through devices
built and service rendered for the paying patrons. In the eighteenth century London coffeehouse, the presence of an active deity was regularly established though the lecturer's experiments and demonstrations. As an example, a lecturer could demonstrate the strength of God's presence through the continued adhesion of two objects, after the air was evacuated with an air pump. Thus, simultaneously educated and entertained on the sciences and the acts of their active Deity, patrons of these coffeehouses kept coming back for more. However, education was not the only purpose (nor perhaps the main purpose in many cases) of these lectures. These lectures were given with their implied utility to those patrons who attended. And many lecturers successfully sold their lectures as such. |
.Those patronizing the coffeehouses of eighteenth century London were merchants and artisans of differing wealth and status in search of a good time, information, business connections, and new mechanical instruments. The patrons came to see the displays of pyrotechnics and water works, and would actively seek lecturers that had dazzling displays and intricate machines. The merchants enjoyed the opportunity to understand Newtonian physics The coffeehouse also let the patrons network with other merchants with the same business interests. The wealthier patrons of the coffeehouse often searched for practical devices such as the water pump to purchase to use in mines or for irrigational purposes. Thus there were a variety of patrons in the coffeehouses due to its many attractions, but there were also those that disliked the coffeehouse.The most amusing opponents of the coffeehouses were the wives of the patrons. In The Women’s Petition Against Coffee they complain that the coffee makes the men impotent and reduces their libido |
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