Carta del Café

Coffee and tea have become the most popular non-alcoholic drinks in Europe and the rest of the modern World, and hot chocolate has become a much-loved treat as well. Originating from Asia and America, their introduction to Europeans in the 16th century not only transformed their eating habits but their society as cafes became important places to gather and exchange ideas. The presence in the three plants of mild stimulants called xanthines, such as caffeine, was entirely new to Europeans but became a staple of diets across Europe by the 18th century. Discovered at the dawn of the Age of Exploration, these stimulating products helped to fuel their subsequent discovery of other parts of the world. Another product new to Europeans, sugar, tempered their naturally bitter flavor. Oddly, there are not many legends about the discovery of its stimulating properties, as well as about the first individuals who introduced and spread their use throughout Europe.

A Mysterious Coffee Book

The text at hand curiously lacks any indication of its author, nor any mention of the printer, place and year of its publication. Everything indicates that it is the Spanish version of a letter written initially in Italian or Latin and that someone took care of translating for its dissemination among Spanish readers. The translator neglected the transcription of the native names and even the titles of the books mentioned, so one of the first difficulties for the reader is to identify some of the places and names mentioned. The text gives news of a new drink, coffee, and concludes with detailed information concerning its preparation.