CAffe, Coffe, Coffi, Buna, Bon, Ban or Elkaine, is, according to a modern Author, the Fruit or Berry of a Plant, whose Stalk resembles that of our Horse-Bean; but as he is a Person on whom we can lay no Stress, I shall hold with Bauhinus, that celebrated Author, who says, that Coffee is the Fruit of a Tree, whose Berries are brought from Arabia Felix, and that the Tree is like Spindle-Wood, or Priest-Cap, and that the Leaves are thick, and always green, according as it is represented in the Figure, which is taken from the said Bauhinus.
Chuse your Coffee greenish, fresh or new, and that does not smell musty, but whose Berry is of a middle Size; in short, the cleanest, dryest and plumpest that can be had. As to those who have it brought from Marseilles, where they buy whole Bales together, let 'em take Care that the Bottom of the Bales be not mouldy, by which means the Goods will spoil and damage the whole Cargo. Coffee is used for little or nothing that I know of, but to make a Liquor with Water and Sugar, which is more or less esteem'd, according to the Country, that are Drinkers of it; which where it is valued, there is a great Consumption made of it, in the prepar'd Berry; which is done by drying it in an Oven or Kiln, so long, 'till it is well parch'd, or rather half calcin'd, and looks not of an absolute Black, but rather of a dark Purple, inclining to black; if it be well burn'd, and not over high, it has a grateful Flavour; but if over much or too little done, or if afterwards it be ground any Time before it be used, it loses all its Force and Virtue; so that in making Coffee, the Powder is to be fresh ground, and us'd immediately; for an Hour's Time will pall and flat it, so as it shall lose all its volatile Parts, which float like an Oil upon the Liquor, when fresh; but upon the least keeping, after reduc'd to Powder, its essential Particles are so subtle as to fly away, or be destroyed by the Corosive Nitre of the Air, which being expos'd but for a few Minutes, they instantly imbibe.
Caffe, Coffe, or Coffee, is a small Berry, longish and round, like a Pine Apple, of a dark brown Colour; its Bark is a Kind of Husk that is a little hard and Woody; it encloses a Berry as large as a gring Pea, of an oval Figure, dividing itself into two Parts, yellowish, inclining to white; the Fruit grows upon a Tree of the same Name, which is common in the Happy Arabia, from whence it is transported through all the Dominions of the great Turk, and from Turkey brought to us, as is suppos'd, cur'd, that it may not be planted in other Countries.
It is of an excellent drying Quality, comforts the Brain, and dries up Crudities in the Stomach: Some Author says, it cures Consumptions, Rickets and Swooning Fits; it helps Digestion, eases Pains of the Head, rarifies the Blood, suppresses Vapours, gives Life and Gaiety to the Spirits, hinders Sleepiness after Victuals, provokes Urine and the Courses, and contracts the Bowels; it is an excellent Dryer, fit for moist Bodies, and most Constitutions, but that of young Girls, subject to the Green-Sickness; and likewise is prevalent in such as are apt to running Humours, Sores, or King's Evil upon them: It helps Abortion, and confirms the Tone of the Parts drunk after eating; but with this Observation, that this Liquor be always made fresh: for if it stands but two or three Hours, it will be pall'd and grow naught. It is an effectual Remedy against Worms in Children; so that if the Mother drink but frequently of it, when with Child, the Infant shall not be afflicted with Worms, during its infancy.