The history of coffee in Europe began in Venice. In fact, historical documents reveal that the ambassador in Constantinople, Gianfrancesco Morosini, was the first European to mention the word 'coffee', in a report to the senate of Venice in 1585.

Credit for this was given to the Venetian merchants. They followed the sea routes that linked the far east with Venice and Naples, bringing the first bags of coffee into Venice.

Some ancient papers dated from the early 1600s testify that coffee was initially very expensive and considered a valuable medicine (prepared as infusion with powder of roasted coffee beans).

Towards the end of the century, the infusion of coffee became so popular and required by the people, and the senate issued an order for they were procured and imported larger quantities of coffee for the City of Venice.

Then a momentous event happened in 1683: the first-ever 'coffee shop' opened in Piazza San Marco. It began an unstoppable phenomenon with dozens of coffee shops soon opening. These were both commercial and meeting places for intellectuals, academics, politicians, students, artists and ordinary people. Interiors resembled comfortable living rooms with large coffee tables.

As Antonio Lamberti describes in 1802: "The Café had become the house of people of all classes, of all ages, of all social conditions. The rooms were modest, unadorned, no glass windows, badly lit by a flickering light and uncertain. But like in a breath of elegance and pleasure, wearing charming clothes, the glad crowd inside the dark rooms was divided into little noisy groups where hard gossip and rampant backbiting flourished."

Centuries later, the entire world understands the pleasure of spending relaxed time in their own favourite coffee shop.

And we hope The Merchant of Venice will soon be yours, too.