Spring, 1765

In the dimly lit confines of the Green Dragon Tavern in Colonial Boston, the raucous crowd in the main dining room drowned out any indication of the confidential business being conducted upstairs. The air was thick with solemness as the Loyal Nine gathered, their resolve palpable amidst the flickering candlelight. 

What they were discussing and debating was to be held to the utmost secrecy, as mere mention of opposition to the newly passed Stamp Act and breaking free from England was considered treason – a crime punishable by hanging. With fervor in their hearts and jovial song echoing off the wooden beams from the tavern below, they convened, united by a shared vision of liberty and defiance against British tyranny. Among their ranks were:

• John Avery - Distiller
• Henry Bass - Merchant
• Thomas Chase - Distiller
• Stephen Cleverly - Brazier
• Thomas Crafts - Painter and glazier
• Benjamin Edes - Printer of the Boston Gazette
• Joseph Field - Ship captain
• John Smith - Brass founder
• George Trott - Jeweler

Around the worn tables, men of varied trades and backgrounds, bound by their commitment to the cause, exchanged whispered words and plotted their next move in the struggle for independence.

In this historic haven, amidst tankards of ale, carafes of coffee, and the scent of tobacco smoke, the seeds of revolution were sown, laying the foundation for the extraordinary events to come.

This scene was repeated in coffee houses across the colonies, but few groups were quite as active, effective, or radical as the Loyal Nine, whose played a crucial role in rallying public opposition to the Stamp Act, which imposed direct taxes on the colonies without their consent. Some original members are thought to have helped plan or participate in the Boston Tea Party.

Eventually, the Loyal Nine would grow into a larger and more formal group well-known to history as the Sons of Liberty. 

The one commonality groups such as the Loyal Nine share was the type of meeting place – coffee houses and taverns. These structures served as social gathering places where townsfolk frequented to learn of recent events and learn of the day's news. They were, in an essence, the social media platforms of the time.

Without these buildings providing cover to the clandestine discussions of these tightly knit networks of likeminded individuals, the seed of American Independence very likely would not have grown in the same manner as it had – much of it discussed over cups of coffee. 

 

18th Century Coffee Houses

The modern coffee house can trace its roots back to 1652 in London, England. Pasqua Rosée, an enterprising Levantine trader, is credited with establishing the first coffeehouse located in St. Michael’s Alley, Cornhill, marking the introduction of coffee to the city's social and cultural life. Rosée's coffeehouse quickly became a hub for intellectual exchange, attracting patrons from various professions who gathered to discuss news, politics, and ideas. His establishment played a significant role in shaping London's vibrant coffee culture, setting the stage for the proliferation of coffeehouses that would become central to public discourse and community life in the ensuing centuries. Rosée's legacy is thus intertwined with the early adoption and popularization of coffee in England.

Not long after Paqua opened his coffee house in London, coffee's popularity would make it's leap across the Atlantic and find a foothold in New England. In 1670, Dorothy Jones would become the first person to receive a license to sell coffee in America, marking a significant milestone in the history of American coffee culture. 

Then, in October of 1676, John Sparry opened America’s first coffeehouse, according to Boston city records stating “aproued of by the select men to keepe a publique house for sellinge of Coffee.”