{"id":9848,"date":"2023-06-07T14:28:52","date_gmt":"2023-06-07T14:28:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tasteporto.com\/?p=9848"},"modified":"2025-01-30T10:51:35","modified_gmt":"2025-01-30T10:51:35","slug":"coffee-in-porto","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tasteporto.com\/zh\/coffee-in-porto\/","title":{"rendered":"Coffee in Porto: A Connoisseur’s Handbook"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Portuguese hold a special place in their hearts for coffee. In fact, this beverage is so deeply ingrained in our culture that, when suggesting going out, Portuguese often say “Wanna go out for a coffee?” – and end up enjoying a different beverage instead. “Going out for coffee” is simply an excuse to sit at a terrace or caf\u00e9, relax, chat or enjoy a good book. <\/a>Join the longest-running Food Tour in town and we’ll tell you more about the coffee culture in Porto<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coffee: A Historical Review<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Coffee’s origin is a subject of scholarly debate, with Ethiopia, Kenya and Yemen among the proposed birthplaces. However, the word “coffee” itself stems from an Arabic term meaning “lack of hunger,” solidifying its reputation as a genuine energizing drink.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is believed that the first European caf\u00e9 opened in Venice in 1570, followed by Rome in 1645 and Oxford in 1650. In Paris, after an initial attempt in 1672, an Italian named Procopi\u00f2 Cut\u00f2 opened Caf\u00e9 Procope in 1686. This caf\u00e9 became famous for attracting notable personalities and has continued to operate to this day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coffee in Porto: More Than a Beverage<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Lisbon was the first city in Portugal to have a caf\u00e9 but the exact details of how coffee came to Portugal are not fully documented. The prevailing belief is that European merchants introduced this stimulating elixir to the country during the 18th century. Evidence of its consumption can be traced back to as early as 1786 when the Portuguese Abbot of Jazente mentioned the tasting of coffee in one of his verses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the vibrant city of Porto, the emergence of “botequins” near the Ribeira area marked the early precursors to caf\u00e9s – “botequins” were an enchanting fusion of coffee houses, breweries and bars. As the city expanded, the Baixa district transformed into a bustling hub of caf\u00e9 culture. Pra\u00e7a de D. Pedro, for instance, became the epicenter of economic, social and political life, adorned by notable caf\u00e9s, such as Porto Clube, Europa and Internacional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the insightful words of Aquilino Ribeiro, an esteemed Portuguese novelist of the 20th century: “That new square [current Pra\u00e7a da Liberdade] served as a true university, not only for Porto but for the entire country, as it was there that the architects of the Republic were shaped”.

The author’s reference to the Liberal Revolution of 1820 implies that Liberalism did not arise abruptly during that period but rather evolved through centuries of gradual development. The catalysts were the merchants who embarked on voyages to Flanders, England and Northern Europe, returning with revolutionary concepts and fresh political ideologies. These very notions and ideologies found fertile ground within the bustling caf\u00e9 culture, where ideas were passionately exchanged and vigorously debated.

E\u00e7a de Queir\u00f3s, another celebrated Portuguese writer, shared a similar viewpoint, proclaiming that it was “coffee, more so than the encyclopedia, that fueled the great revolution.”<\/p>\n\n\n

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Caf\u00e9s in Porto<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

C\u00e9sar Santos Silva, in his book “Caf\u00e9s do Porto”, dives into the vibrant world of caf\u00e9s in the Invicta city, exploring their profound cultural and intellectual significance. The author paints a vivid picture of Porto’s caf\u00e9s as lively meeting spots, where people come together to relax, have discussions and savor the pleasures of a steaming cup of coffee. According to this author, no other city in the country has been as deeply influenced by the caf\u00e9 culture as Porto. From the early 19th century until the 1970s, caf\u00e9s served as multi-purpose havens: <\/p>\n\n\n\n