At MusikRoel, where music and philosophy meet, exploring the caffeinated rituals behind some of history’s most creative and contemplative minds is only fitting.
From opera houses to Enlightenment salons, coffee was often more than just a drink — it was a muse. Some ideas are born from silence, some from symphonies — and many, it turns out, from a steaming cup of coffee.
“Coffee is a great power in my life.”
— Voltaire
Coffee and the Composer’s Mind
Johann Sebastian Bach
Bach didn’t just drink coffee — he composed an entire cantata about it. “Schweigt stille, plaudert nicht” (aka the Coffee Cantata) is a playful ode to the drink’s addictive charm. In 18th-century Leipzig, Bach was a regular at Zimmermann’s Coffee House, where music and conversation flowed freely.
“If I couldn’t, three times a day,
be allowed to drink my little cup of coffee,
in my anguish, I will turn
into a shriveled-up roast goat.”
— Coffee Cantata, 1734
Ludwig van Beethoven
- Beethoven was obsessively precise with his coffee — he counted exactly 60 beans per cup.
- Part of his morning ritual before long hours of composing.
Franz Liszt
- Thrived in 19th-century Parisian cafés, performing and exchanging ideas.
- Coffee, conversation, and composition flowed together in salon culture.
Gustav Mahler
- Strong coffee was part of Mahler’s disciplined daily schedule.
- After long walks, he’d return to compose — always with a cup nearby.
The Philosopher’s Brew
Voltaire
- Reportedly drank 40–50 cups of coffee a day, often mixed with chocolate.
- His philosophical fire burned bright in the cafés of Paris.
Immanuel Kant
- He allowed himself one coffee daily, strictly at midday.
- Part of his famously rigid, reasoned life.
Søren Kierkegaard
- Owned dozens of coffee cups — chose a different one for each guest.
- Prepared coffee by filling a cup with sugar, then pouring in strong black coffee.
Jean-Paul Sartre & Simone de Beauvoir
- Lived and worked in Paris cafés like Les Deux Magots and Café de Flore.
- Coffee was their intellectual fuel — powering Being and Nothingness, The Second Sex, and more.
Coffeehouse Culture: Where It All Met
From Enlightenment philosophers in London’s coffeehouses to Romantic composers in Vienna’s cafés, coffee wasn’t just a drink — it was a creative catalyst. At MusikRoel, we believe in the power of rituals. Whether you’re listening to Arvo Pärt with a warm mug or reading Nietzsche between sips, music and philosophy often meet over coffee.
Bonus: Thinking in Tune — Coffee Edition Playlist
- Max Richter – Infra 5
- Alice Coltrane – Journey in Satchidananda
- Erik Satie – Gnossienne No. 1
- Keith Jarrett – The Köln Concert
- Bill Evans – Peace Piece
- J.S. Bach – Coffee Cantata (Selections)
What’s in your cup today? Drop us a line and share your ritual.
Follow MusikRoel closely for more posts, playlists, and sonic philosophy.
