Coffee Culture of Somae
Cultural Overview
Clientele
Who
The coffeehouses of Somae are largely located in Haricourt. Besides coffeehouses, those who live there are predominantly foreign: Mawan Point, Zo'abi Way, and Near-Serenbar. The merchants of Serenbar first brought coffee to Somae, and have allowed a neighborhood of wealthy Tahati to flourish in Haricourt. They frequent the cafes as well, turning them into a cultural melting pot. The Somae coffeehouse denizens are largely male, from the middle to upper class. Clerks and philosophers from the Inkpot and Robed Quarter come together. The leisure classes and ladies come later, in that order. Old men are an ever-present feature.Where
Coffeehouses are mostly located in Haricourt, the bulk of which are along the Winches. These structures back up to the cliffs overlooking Evelyn's Landing, the main waterfront marketplace. When coffee was first popularized in Somae, the beans leftover from the Threshing-era siege ran out quickly. Imports had to come from Serenbar, the furthest east city in the world, and took so long that they were rapidly raised up the cliff in buckets when they first arrived. After this, coffeehouses set up there and installed their own winches."The owner of the tavern house known as the Tahati was summoned for making a sort of liquor called coffee, a malodorous substance, to the great nuisance and prejudice of the neighborhood." - Order in CouncilA few coffeehouses had attempted to open in other neighborhoods in the city, but the Thewisy government has since ordered coffee sales restricted to Haricourt for moral purposes - the drink being disliked by more conservative elements of the city. Some underground cafes have nonetheless popped up elsewhere, selling coffee of a significantly reduced quality but being frequented by younger, more subversive, academics and intellectuals.
When
The early mornings are dominated by the clerks and merchants of the Robed Quarter and Inkpot. Before the sun is up, these lower-middle-class bureaucrats and workers are off to their shops, offices, and guild halls. As they leave, the first of the city's old men appear, taking their designated tables which they shall not relinquish until the evening. These old men are joined by, and are often members of, the coffeehouse philosophers - less formal than those in the Grounds, but perhaps louder."The neighboring tables speak slightly too loudly to be included in the hum of white noise. Old men can be heard espousing opinions, in definite language, on topics surely remote to their actual knowledge, with a confident tone that grates the brain." - Narratives of SomaeThe afternoon sees wealthy merchants appear, often discussing business with their counterparts, and the coffeehouse becomes an exchange. Their extended lunch gives way to a deluge of all sorts, particularly more upper-lower class workers in the evenings, before ladies became more prevalent after supper.
Coffeehouse Activities
Education
Much of the conversation within Somae's coffeehouses stem from news-writers. The Anharan method of reporting the news, these individuals - generally - write a daily report of the news, either simply recording events like a chronicler, adding opinion, or even investigative work. These are then posted in various public places across the city and are read aloud by criers employed by the news' authors. In remote areas, runners are often employed. In Somae, each coffeehouse has its own preferred news source. Some use the Sophist of Somae, the more philosophical-minded coffee crowds, houses full of academics or government employees use the Collegian Crier, and other coffeehouses have their own. When they conclude their report, the game begins."News of all Types is Reported Daily! Morning for the Announcement of Business, Afternoon for the Updates on the Politics of the World! All Listeners and Expounders Must have a Coffee Purchased!" - Poster Outside of Ryns' HouseMuch of Somae's upper-class culture has been long defined by the Book of the Courtesan. This book describes the court practices and characters of the Golden Age of Somae, less as a history and more as an example to aspire to. Individuals in the coffeehouses, who are given a rare opportunity to mingle with their social betters, often loudly discuss the news in their presence in the hopes of impressing and being picked up as a courtesan, clerk, or member of the household. So too for artists or writers seeking commissions.
"Allow me to entreat - Ladies, Gentlemen - do permit me to put this ineffable piece of elegance under your protection - observe this extraordinary literary jewel!" - Auctioneer of Sirs Brodie, Fane, & HamlynThe unwritten rules of the coffeehouses put an end to this manner of performative discussion an hour or so after the conclusion of the news report. Then, sober and civil discussion is expected, and the social betters now discuss in the presence of others. This, in a city known for the world's greatest library and academy, functions as a university for the people.
Socialization
The coffeehouse allows the mixing of ideas, skills, and people. Authors have come together there to create plays and books, especially facilitating a boom in coffeehouse philosophers. In theory, all social classes intermix in the coffeehouse, allowing those just outside the dinner party class to meet their social inferiors on relatively equal ground. However, the amount of true conversational intermingling is surely rare. One thing this especially facilitates is a political discussion. Those with enough power to influence the Rostrele or Thewisys mingle with those who have problems the Rostrele or Thewisys can solve. While this sometimes allows powerful people who are actually interested in solving issues to hear about them firsthand, more often than not it gives the power hungry an opportunity to foster dissent. Agents of the state are therefore all about Haricourt, and many Orders in Council have dealt with the coffeehouses.Coffee Styles
Growth
Coffee first came to Somae during the Threshing Wars. It was a common drink within the Tahati camps, and the speed and ruthlessness of the enemy chariots were attributed to this drink. When the siege was lifted, it was found within the camps and confiscated by House Thewisy. Once the Tahati who would settle Tahawayt taught Anharans how to brew it, the issue arose of how to get more. Two methods have developed. One of the positives of the attack on Somae was that the city became known throughout al-Tahat. Traders from Serenbar, the furthest east island in the world and a legendary city in its own right, eventually came west and brought coffee with them. The great distance required to trade with Far-Serenbar led to such a rush for imports that the Winches developed. Second was Thewisy colonists in the Lesser Trammel Islands, a chain of small tropical islands south of the Narrow Sea. There they began growing coffee, in the only Anharan territory capable of it.Varieties
When coffee first came to Somae, they had yet to develop their own styles and varieties. Most coffees were chosen by color, with the customer picking from a painted sign. Now, many of these have been given names, but the bulk of coffee varieties remain variations on the darkness of the drink. Some more expensive coffeehouses mix the drink with spices such as cardamom.
Primary Related Location
Related Organizations
Related Ethnicities
Comments