The internet in a cup
Coffee fuelled the information exchanges of the 17th and 18th centuries
WHERE do you go when you want to know the latest business news, follow commodity prices, keep up with political gossip, find out what others think of a new book, or stay abreast of the latest scientific and technological developments? Today, the answer is obvious: you log on to the internet. Three centuries ago, the answer was just as easy: you went to a coffee-house. There, for the price of a cup of coffee, you could read the latest pamphlets, catch up on news and gossip, attend scientific lectures, strike business deals, or chat with like-minded people about literature or politics.
This article appeared in the Christmas Specials section of the print edition under the headline “The internet in a cup”
From the December 20th 2003 edition
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