The Sicilian chef Francesco Procopio dei Coltelli founded Café Procope in Paris, establishing the world's first true literary café that combined the consumption of premium coffee, exotic sorbets, and refined pastries with high-status social gathering. Unlike traditional, rowdy taverns, Procope offered a highly structured, well-lit environment where patrons could read the latest newspapers, engage in philosophical debates, and access intellectual society. It served as the undisputed headquarters of the Republic of Letters during the French Enlightenment.

Café Procope directly fostered the creation of landmark Enlightenment literature by acting as the daily workspace and debate floor for figures like Voltaire, Denis Diderot, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. The vibrant, caffeine-fueled atmosphere directly stimulated the production of sharp satirical poetry, early encyclopedic essays, and revolutionary political pamphlets that challenged the absolute power of the French crown and church.