In the 17th century, 'Penny Universities' offered elite intellectual debates for the price of a single cup of coffee.

The first English coffeehouse opened in Oxford in 1650, followed by Pasqua Rosée’s establishment in London in 1652. By 1700, London hosted over 500 coffeehouses, each charging a one-penny admission fee that covered a dish of coffee and access to newspapers and conversation. This low cost democratized information, allowing lower-class citizens to sit alongside elites like Isaac Newton or Samuel Pepys.The transition from alcohol to caffeine had a profound physiological impact on society. Before the coffee craze, many Europeans drank weak beer throughout the day because water was often contaminated. Replacing a depressant with a stimulant led to increased alertness and productivity among the urban workforce. This mental clarity was essential for the complex financial and scientific reasoning required during the Enlightenment.Specific coffeehouses served as specialized incubators for global industries. Edward Lloyd’s coffeehouse, which opened around 1688, became the primary hub for shipping news and eventually evolved into the world-famous insurance market Lloyd’s of London. Similarly, Jonathan’s Coffee-House served as the original meeting place for stockbrokers before it transformed into the London Stock Exchange in 1773.Historians like Brian Cowan note that these spaces were unique because they enforced a 'rule of liberty' where social rank was ignored in favor of logical argument. This environment accelerated the spread of the Scientific Revolution by providing a platform for the Royal Society members to discuss their latest findings with the public. The 'Penny University' model remains a landmark example of how affordable social spaces can drive massive cultural and economic shifts.