Coffee pot

Coffee pot It forms a part of a set which also includes a sugar bowl and a milk jug. Coffee made its way to Europe in the 17th century. A Pole who spent ten years in Turkish imprisonment, one Jerzy Kulczycki, contributed to its popularity, having acquired the habit of brewing this „overseas poison”. Having regained freedom through a prisoner exchange, he was employed by John III Sobieski as interpreter for Turkish and confectioner. He accompanied the king during his Vienna expedition, for which the authorities of Vienna gave him permission to establish the first public coffee house, which he opened in 1683. In the 18th century, coffee established itself in Western Europe and ceased being a Turkish extravagancy, becoming the drink of choice of the upper classes. When it reached Poland, initially, as in many other countries, it was considered to be a uniquely distasteful and equally dangerous drink. In the times of Augustus III., coffee „finally made its way from the wealthy to the entire populace (…)”, thus becoming popular and more easily accessible. It was popularised by the periodicals "Monitor" and "Patriota Polski" [The Polish Patriot], guaranteeing that the new drug is not hazardous to health and does not prevent one from working. In citizens’ homes, coffee was served by the lady of the house or a servant. Salon etiquette included serving it to the guests along with cookies. Up until the end of the 19th century, coffee was solved raw, and it had to be roasted on one’s own. Complex machines were used for this, an obligatory piece of equipment in any burgher house. Coffee was drank in the morning or, for taste, with the afternoon snack. Sugar was an obligatory addition to coffee. The sugar bowl that accompanies the pot in the set, is open, and not locked with a key as historic sugar containers were. Joanna Kluz