Having a coffee this morning? You're partaking in one of the earliest Social Networks!

☕ The Original Social Network: London’s “Penny Universities” ☕

By the late 1600s, London had over 500 coffeehouses, buzzing with philosophers, merchants, scientists, and revolutionaries. They were called “Penny Universities” because for the price of a single coffee, anyone—rich or poor—could engage in intellectual debates, political discourse, and groundbreaking ideas.

💡 Isaac Newton discussed physics over a cup.

💡 John Locke debated democracy at the next table.

💡 Revolutionary ideas that shaped the modern world were brewed

alongside steaming cups of coffee.

These weren’t just places to grab a drink—they were the birthplace of modern public discourse.

If coffeehouses still worked like this today, who would you want to share a table with? ☕👇