Stuart England

The first coffee house in London

Oldys

A Mr Edwards, a Turkey merchant, brought from Smyrna to London one Pasqua Rosee, a Ragusan youth, who prepared this drink for him every morning. But the novelty thereof drawing too much company to him, he allowed his said servant ... to sell it publicly, and they set up the first coffee-house in London, in St Michael's Alley in Cornhill. The sign was Pasqua Rosee's own head.