Coffee

Coffee usually refers to the roasted and ground beans of the Coffea plant. It was first discovered in Ethiopia by the indigenous population, then spread by the Arabs across the Middle East.

During the 17th century coffee houses opened in England and became quickly popular meeting places for men to engage in discussions. This distressed alewives (due to competition) and some women (who believed coffee reduced men's virilty).

Coffee in the SCA

While coffee was not known in Europe during the medieval period, It is considered period by consensus in the SCA.