Cafes.
The places for socializing, getting drinks, having lunch, getting to know new people, getting online in the internet in the modern time in France. The structure of modern French caf�s that we see all over Paris was established over the course of almost four centuries. Beginning with the 17th century, caf�s brought a different order and perspective to French society, which still impacts French culture in the 21st century. Their functions and roles are made clear in the 20th century.
The historical and social events that took place in between the 17th and 20th centuries gave shape to the modern French cafes. The arrival of coffee before the other exotic, new drinks in Europe and its growing fame were the main reasons for the need for caf�s in the 17th century. Social interactions and French revolution made the caf�s the places to gather and discuss the issues in society in 18th and 19th centuries. Through the end of the 20th century and in the beginning of 21st century, cafes started to take their final shape with the peace in society, and they became the places to socialize and get something to drink in nice places.
Paris had always been known for its lust for drinking. By the time of the arrival of coffee in the city in the 1640s1, it became popular among the aristocrats. Coffee started to be served in private homes. French voyagers who traveled to the East brought coffee beans back as gifts for friends, and they prepared the new beverage for their friends.2 As its fame spread out among the aristocrats, coffee started to be served in two kinds of Parisian home by 1660s: at merchants' places who traded with the East to make profit, and at great lords' places who imported Italian chefs to experience the new drink before everyone else did.
When Louis XIV tasted coffee in 1664, he was not impressed.3 However, the high society in Paris fell in love with the new, exotic drink that was introduced by the Turkish ambassador at exotic, private parties4By 1671, the public got a chance to taste the rich caffeinated drink. An Armenian named Pascal introduced coffee to the public for the first time in an annual fair on Saint Germain5, which brought all ranks of society together. Pascal had a small booth in the fair where he advertised the coffee. He called the booth maison du caf�. It was the first movement for the establishment of the idea of caf�s.
In the mid 1670s, Pascal opened a little coffee boutique. It was opened to satisfy the city's need for a place for drinking and to make some profit out of this exotic and new drink, which would possibly become famous among Parisians. However, the coffee was expensive which did not appeal to the society. Besides, Pascal could not manage to create a passion for caf�s which was created later on by Francesco Procopio by designing a complete new concept in the society.
Coffee-houses were established one after another in the fourth quarter of the 17th century. The idea of getting together and drinking coffee in a public place became popular among Parisians because they found an opportunity to show off. In the 1670s, a lot of coffeehouses were opened near Saint Germain des Pres; however, they ended up failing. They were more like English coffee-houses and did not fit into the French culture. They served beer, and they were dirty and smoky. Luxury goods were becoming famous in Paris in the 17th century.
For this reason French coffeehouses should have been ostentatious and clean. In other words, they should have been a showcase for luxurious goods. That was what Pascal was missing in his coffeehouse. His coffeehouse was a place to get a drink but not a place to socialize with the outside world. The creator of today's chic caf� concept and style, which is an integral part of the French culture, is Procopio, the owner of the first caf� in Paris.The first real Parisian caf� was established in 1686 under the name of Le Procope.
It was opened by a Sicilian man named Francesco Procopio dei Coltelli who worked for Pascal at the Saint Germain fair.6 He used his experience to establish the first caf� in Paris near Saint Germain. His goal was not just to make a profit by using the new drink, but also to turn France into a coffee drinking society which he succeeded doing so in the following years.From the beginning of the establishment of caf� culture in 1686, French cafes had their own style. They were glamorous and elegant places with luxurious goods where people hung out to see what was going on and to be seen by the people.
Procopio's Procope had a big effect on the development of the style of caf�s in Paris. He established his caf� in a different way than the European cafes by changing the characteristics of European cafes and creating a new, different style. Smoking was forbidden, which kept the fresh smell inside the caf�. Beer was not served, which was helpful to keep the order in the cafes.7 The caf� was basically the place for spending time alone or with friends and drinking coffee in a nice environment. The coffee was served from silver pots, tables were made of marble, chandeliers hung from the ceiling, and mirrors were displayed on the walls.
Waiters were dressed in chic clothes such as coiffed in fur trimmed hats and flowing caftans.
