Coffee originated in Ethiopia and comes from the fruit of the coffee plant. From Africa, it spread to Yemen and then to the rest of the Islamic world.
Historians believe Sufi saints brought coffee to Islamic lands in the mid-15th century. They drank coffee to stay awake during long nights of meditation and prayer.
Some Ottoman physicians warned that coffee gave people headaches and was bad for sleep. Other physicians argued it sharpened the mind and helped with digestion after a meal.
The first coffeehouses opened in Istanbul in the early 1550s.
The elite customers often sat on a platform in the corner near the furnace. These customers were typically elderly people with high social ranking.
Coffeehouses became spaces for people from all walks of life. Artists, craftsmen, merchants, soldiers, students, professors, and judges would all gather in these spaces.
To pass the time, people drank coffee, read, listened to music or poetry, shared news and gossip, watched shadow puppet shows, and played board games.
Coffeehouses were spaces for relaxation, but also politics. By the 17th century, Janissaries would plan riots inside the coffeehouses.
In 1511 and 1633, authorities tried to ban coffeehouses and even coffee! Some people saw the coffeehouse as a place that took time away from a man’s religious, family, and working responsibilities. Some authorities also saw these spots as dangerous dens of revolutionary activity.
By the late 17th century, all bans were completely lifted. Coffee drinking had become an everyday part of Ottoman life, and coffeehouses were used to make money for the empire.
Ottoman coffee culture spread to Europe, the Americas, and around the world.
Now, every time you see a coffee shop in a town or city, you can think back to the Ottoman Empire!