I'd point you in the direction of Ellis' The Coffeehouse: A Cultural History. While 17th and 18th century London coffee houses were popular locations for citizens to gather, discuss, read, and debate, the culture surrounding coffee was far different than modern coffee culture. As a luxury item (not necessarily rare per say, but certainly not and item one would buy in bulk at the market), consuming coffee wasn't necessarily about taste, but about status. Importing coffee beans was big business and highly lucrative as was owning coffee plantations. Coffee houses were mostly for the upper class, although a variety of people could come to hear news read aloud. While there was a "variety" of coffee beans, it wasn't the niche market it is today. Instead, preparation style was far more important in diversifying. I would argue that coffee in England hasn't really gotten worse; rather, the market has developed substantially and reaches all levels of society. Modern coffee culture is far different than 17th and 18th century practices but probably more importantly, coffees are geared to people's tastes more than their status. Although there is still a vibrant elite coffee community, modern coffee consumption is far more widespread than it was in the 17th and 18th centuries.