Coffee tables are also sometimes referred to as cocktail tables. But where did the name come from? I mean, why not tea tables or wine tables. Is it because it’s the most popular drink in America and you just put it on the “table” and it’s been stuck ever since? Or maybe there is more? Let’s first look at why coffee has become the American drink of choice.
The Ottoman Turks introduced the drink and the word “coffee” to Europe, where it eventually spread to America. As a result, some say they also introduced a “coffee table.” But this is not confirmed. Coffee began to become increasingly popular not only in America but throughout Europe. After the War of 1812, Britain banned all tea imports into America. So naturally Americans drank less and less tea and more and more coffee. Finally, coffee in America seemed superior to tea that has been lost since then. But where is the table?
The original coffee table is, simply put, a regular table with its legs cut off so that it is lower to the ground. The Japanese have long understood these short tables. But when the Japanese were sitting on the floor crossed their legs, a coffee table had to be used with the sofa. It is not clear exactly when the modern term “coffee table” is used, but some used it around the 18th century. At the end of the 19th century. In the beginning. Be that as it may, it would be a British or even Chinese decision, and today we would call it a ‘tea table’. And in fact, in those lands, they often use the term. However, the current fact shows that the cup, which usually falls on American tables, is filled with coffee, which is why the name is stuck.
So we have it, a modern coffee table that is now more popular than ever. And it’s true, no matter where it gets its name, I mean, some people won’t even let you put coffee on their supposed “coffee” table. But it’s just nice to see how things have come a long way and evolved over time.
