Arabic Coffee: The Height of Hospitality
By Giorgia Piantanida
When we think of coffee today, we tend to think of Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts, perhaps an Italian espresso. We think of its origins and land them somewhere in South America or Sub-Saharan Africa. However, you would be incorrect. Coffee originally comes from the highlands of Yemen and Ethiopia, and it is a bean that has been popularized worldwide after its departure from those areas. The word coffee itself derives from the Arabic word qahwa, which was used for both coffee and café.
Originally, mystics used coffee as a stimulant to help them concentrate and enhance a ‘spiritual intoxication’ when connecting with God. As the drink was popularized, attempts were made by religious authorities to ban the drink, which was often getting passed around in a similar fashion to pitchers of wine. Those movements largely failed, and coffee houses evolved as important parts of communities. Men could come together to engage with each other, and the coffee houses became centers of intellectual life, rivaling mosques in terms of meeting places.
Coffee spread to Europe through the Ottoman Empire, as well as by sea through the port of Mocha in Yemen. Originally, coffee drank in Europe was closely tied to Islam, and was viewed with suspicion by citizens. However, sometime around 1600, Pope Clement VIII was reported to have enjoyed a cup of coffee, and declared that Muslims should no longer monopolize it - hence, coffee was reportedly baptized at this stage. From there on, its popularity grew and spread throughout Europe and later the Americas, each location creating its own unique spin on a delightful drink.
In its home region, coffee is an important symbol of hospitality. It is served to welcome guests, help them enjoy a visit, and engage in thoughtful conversation. Traditionally, the drink is prepared in front of all the guests. Coffee beans are selected and then lightly roasted over a fire, to then be pounded with a copper pestle. The coffee grounds are put into a coffee pot with water. The concoction is placed over a fire once more, and once brewed, is served for guests. The most important or oldest guest is traditionally the first person served. This process continues until everyone has a cup to enjoy together.
Coffee is seen as a symbol of generosity and hospitality and is a cornerstone of Arab society. Regardless of what home or space you enter, a cup of coffee is more than likely to be offered, and you’d be a fool to turn it down. Coffee is much more than a drink for much of the Arab world - it is a key activity that brings people together, encourages lively conversation, and welcomes strangers into the fold.