Coffeehouse Culture: An Ottoman Contribution to a Global Tradition
Written by Emirhan Aydinoglu
Although Coffea arabica plants, which are later used to make coffee, originated in the forests of Ethiopia, Ottoman society and culture played a significant role in popularizing it throughout the Western world. In its early stages, plants were gathered in the wild in an unorganized, decentralized way. Later, in the late 15th century, coffee plants were first strategically cultivated by Sufi monks in Yemen [1]. Coffee was consumed to help members of the Sufi brothers stay awake and alert during long discussions in the evenings. As coffee started to expand beyond its origins in Ethiopia and Yemen, it shifted from a religious practice to a social one. In 1555, two Syrian traders brought coffee to Ottoman lands, and it immediately soared in popularity and became a central part of daily life [2]. The Sultans appointed their own coffee maker, Kahveci usta, and had them perform extravagant coffee-making ceremonies with more than 40 assistants. Coffee also became closely connected with Ottoman courtship and marriage customs. During visits by a prospective groom’s family, the bride-to-be traditionally prepared and served coffee, making coffee service an important part of the marriage ritual.
The notion of coffee being increasingly embedded in the fabric of Ottoman social life attracted worry and concern from Ottoman authorities, fearing political mobilization and unrest. Therefore, despite its popularity, coffeehouses were periodically restricted. In 1633, Sultan Murad IV, who viewed coffee shops as potential centers of social unrest and provocation, ordered coffeehouses closed and imposed strict restrictions on coffee and tobacco consumption [3]. Despite these restrictions, coffee remained an important part of Ottoman social life and continued to be consumed in private settings.
Coffee’s popularity soon extended beyond the Ottoman Empire and into Europe. Consumption of coffee in Europe mostly originated in Italy, with Venetian merchants importing it from the Ottoman Empire [5]. In 1645, the first European coffee shop opened in Venice, and coffee became a valuable commodity for wealthy individuals. Furthermore, in 1669, coffee was introduced to Paris high society by Müteferrika Süleyman Ağa, an ambassador to King Louis XIV. 17 years later, Café Procope, the first French coffee shop, opened [5]. While these instances introduced coffee to Europe’s higher class, the widespread cultural introduction happened a decade later.
A popular Viennese legend credits Jerzy Franciszek Kulczycki (Kolschitzky) with using coffee left behind after the Ottoman siege of Vienna in 1683 to introduce Viennese residents to the drink [4]. Historical research, however, identifies the Armenian merchant Johannes Diodato (Theodat), who received a license to serve coffee in 1685, with Vienna’s first documented coffeehouse.
Today, coffee is more than a popular beverage; it is a cultural tradition that is rooted in many societies across borders and continents. Throughout its origins in Ethiopia, cultivation in Yemen, and popularization in the Ottoman Empire, coffee transformed from a crop that grew in the wild to a cultural phenomenon enjoyed by billions of people. With its numerous different styles, Turkish coffee remains a popular type of coffeemaking and ranks as one of the top priorities for tourists who visit Turkiye.
References
1- Coffee, H. (2026, March 16). The history of Yemeni coffee: How Yemen became the birthplace of coffee culture. Hamdan Coffee. https://hamdancoffee.com/blogs/blog/the-history-of-yemeni-coffee-how-yemen-became-the-birthplace-of-coffee-culture?srsltid=AfmBOop4sviEt9SUragSJS6QT5VoI5vG8HrDup-IG0r2_ACZCRicjvzi
2- Dobrenov, P. (2015, September 10). Turkish coffee: A story of mystery, war, romance & empire. Perfect Daily Grind. https://perfectdailygrind.com/2015/09/turkish-coffee-a-story-of-mystery-war-romance-empire/
3- Hay, M. (2018, May 22). In Istanbul, drinking coffee in public was once punishable by death. Atlas Obscura. Atlas Obscura. https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/was-coffee-ever-illegal
4- mindspike. (2020, July 30). The history of coffee – part two. Boom Coffee. https://boombros.com/the-history-of-coffee-part-two/
5- Nescafe. (2023). The rich history of coffee. Nescafé INDIA. https://www.nescafe.com/in/coffee-culture/knowledge/coffee-history