Two coordinators, Miguel Angel Vega and Juan Antonio Albaladejo, lead a new cultural cycle in Alicante City Center that places the European coffeehouse tradition at the heart of the city’s literary and artistic life. The event series opens on Wednesday, October 25, at 18:00, hosted at the University of Alicante’s headquarters, located at 40 San Fernando Street. Across three sessions, guests will explore the history of coffee through guided narratives, literature, and art cafes, revealing how this beverage has evolved from a simple refreshment to a social institution and a catalyst for cultural exchange. The cafe, far more than a place to eat and drink, has become a hub for meetings and community gatherings. Each session will consider different facets of coffee culture, from legendary cafes to iconic spaces that shaped the way people experience coffee.
Organizers describe the cycle as a celebration of coffee’s value and its role in culture. The aim is to invite participants to learn about the histories of cultural institutions—such as theatres, libraries, and museums—that deserve study and appreciation. Through these conferences, attendees will gain insight into how coffee accompanies cultural life and how such venues foster reflection, dialogue, and collaboration.
The narrative touches on coffee’s journey through Europe—from ancient rituals to modern social spaces. It recalls early energy drinks and the spread of coffee culture from its Ethiopian origins to European courts, and how it gradually became a centerpiece of social life. The evolution moved coffee away from wine and beer as the sole social fare, establishing its own ritual and social importance over centuries.
In one historical arc, the course on coffeehouses traces how these spaces transformed into centers for ideas, exchanges, and movements. They became more than food and drink; they were places where plans, creative projects, and even conspiracies found fertile ground. The coffeehouse’s social function—an egalitarian space for discussion and discovery—played a key role in shaping urban cultural life.
The historical survey continues with a tour of notable venues across Europe and beyond. Caffè Florian in Venice, the Pedrocchi in Padua famed for remaining open around the clock, the Kranzler in Berlin, and the Salons of Paris—all are cited as influential hubs that contributed to the modern image of the coffeehouse as a cultural institution. The narrative also touches on how coffee culture intersected with literature, art, and science, including the famous coffeehouses frequented by scholars and writers in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
The program section outlines the schedule for the evening, highlighting the speakers and topics that will illuminate the coffeehouse’s historical role in literary and artistic life. The agenda includes the following sessions:
Program
18:00 — Miguel A. Vega (AU): The origin of the coffeehouse and the emergence of Vienna as a capital of literary and artistic coffee.
18:45 — Pilar Martino (URJC): Madrid’s cafes and the avant-garde movement, featuring Pombo, Gijón, and the Commercial milieu.
19:30 — Break: Coffee and desserts
20:00 — José Gilabert (UMH): The history of Alicante coffee.
20:45 — David Perez (AU): The biotype of 20th-century literature, represented by the “coffee man of letters.”
18:00 — Juan A. Albaladejo (AU): Café des Westens as an incubator of modern German literature.
18:45 — Miguel Ángel Bañón Ortuño (Café Jurado): Presentation and tasting of coffees.
19:15 — Movie screening: Beehive (Mario Camus, 1982). RTVE.
18:00 — Dianella Gambini (Università degli Studi di Perugia): Italian coffee from the Coffee Bottega tradition.
18:45 — Josune Garcia (Catedra Versions): Publishing a study in coffee literature.
19:15 — Antonio Bueno (Grape): Le Chat Noir and other Parisian entertainment venues.
20:00 — Spanish wine tasting on the headquarters terrace (Av. de Ramón y Cajal, 4).
Note: The program weaves together insights from multiple European coffee cultures, tracing how a simple drink became a vehicle for art, literature, and social life across centuries. This cycle invites attendees to reflect on the ongoing relationship between coffeehouses and culture, and how public spaces can continue to nurture creative communities.