Introduction:Coffee is more than just a pick-me-up—it’s also a source of creative inspiration for many famous figures. What fascinating stories link historical cultural giants like Bach and Van Gogh to coffee? This article will take you into the coffee worlds of 15 renowned individuals from China and abroad, exploring their obsession with coffee, unique drinking habits, and timeless quotes that have endured through the ages—allowing you to savor your coffee while experiencing the interplay of history and culture.
Since coffee was introduced to Europe, this dark liquid has captivated countless thinkers, artists, and musicians. From the legend of Balzac chugging thousands of cups while writing tirelessly, to Beethoven’s insistence on using exactly 60 coffee beans per cup, these stories not only showcase the unique allure of coffee but also reveal lesser-known aspects of these celebrities’ daily lives. Below, we introduce 15 well-known figures from China and abroad and their deep connections to coffee, along with their thought-provoking quotes.
1. Bach: A Musical Tribute to Coffee
“Without my morning coffee, I’m just like a dried-up piece of roast goat.” The Baroque music master Bach was not only a compositional genius but also a devoted coffee lover. In 1732, he composed the musical satire Coffee Cantata, which humorously and vividly depicted Vienna society’s ambivalent attitude toward coffee at the time. With coffee being expensive and many parents even forbidding their children from drinking it, Bach used this work to express his support for coffee culture.
2. Beethoven: The Meticulous Coffee Bean Counter
“Before you go, won’t you have a cup of coffee?” The mercurial Beethoven had unusually strict requirements when it came to coffee. It’s said that every time he brewed coffee, he would personally count outexactly 60 coffee beans—no more, no less—demonstrating his pursuit of the perfect flavor.
3. Benjamin Franklin: Coffeehouses as Hubs of Inspiration
During his time in London, Franklin often frequented local coffeehouses. He once wrote: “I love the candid souls I meet in London coffeehouses.” He enjoyed exchanging ideas, discussing current events, and even playing chess in these places, making coffeehouses an important source of inspiration for him.
4. Voltaire: The Legend of Drinking Dozens of Cups a Day
“If coffee is poison, then it is a slow-acting one.” The literary giant Voltaire was known for drinking40 to 50 cups of coffee a day,even if it was often a mixture of coffee and chocolate. Though doctors warned him that such consumption might harm his health, he lived into his eighties, defying the skepticism about coffee’s dangers.
5. Kierkegaard: A Blend of Sugar Cubes and Philosophy
The Danish philosopher Kierkegaard always put about30 sugar cubesinto his cup before pouring in the black coffee. He owned over 50 uniquely shaped coffee cups, and according to his secretary, he would carefully select each cup and philosophically explain his choice—showcasing his distinctive personal style.
6. Theodore Roosevelt: A Voracious Coffee Lover
The 26th President of the United States, Roosevelt, reportedly drank1 gallon (about 3.78 liters)of coffee a day, with his son describing his coffee mug as being as large as a bathtub. His astonishing coffee intake became a popular topic of conversation.
7. L. Frank Baum: Morning Coffee Sparking Creativity
The author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (also translated as The Adventures in Oz), Baum, relied on4 to 5 cups of coffeeevery morning to spark his inspiration, highlighting the important role coffee played in his creative process.
8. Margaret Atwood: Cross-Brand Collaboration with Coffee
The acclaimed Canadian author Atwood collaborated with the coffee brand ‘Balzac Coffee’ to launch the ‘Bird Friendly’ series, with proceeds supporting bird conservation. She herself enjoys her coffee with milk or cream at breakfast, occasionally opting for espresso, showcasing her diverse taste in coffee.
9. David Lynch: A Creative Life Accompanied by Coffee
“Even bad coffee is better than no coffee at all.” Film director David Lynch was known for drinking at least20 cups of coffee a day,and his passion for coffee even led him to launch his own brand, ‘David Lynch Signature Cup Coffee,’ infusing each cup with his personal taste.
10. William Harvey: A Lifelong Bond with Coffee
The 17th-century physician William Harvey, on his deathbed, clutched coffee beans and said: “Who would have thought that this tiny coffee bean is the source of happiness and worth.” He also willed an amount equivalent to his lifetime coffee expenses to be donated, instructing the recipients to commemorate him monthly with coffee—a testament to his immense reverence for coffee.
11. Van Gogh: Inspiration and Madness in the Café
“The place where one goes mad, where one gets destroyed, where one commits crimes”—this was how Van Gogh described the nighttime café. He once had a clash with Gauguin here, even slicing off his own ear. 106 years later, an exhibition of Van Gogh’s paintings was held for two months at the Café du Tambourin, where he once lingered, as if fulfilling his dying wish.
The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.
