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The History of Coffee:
-Tony Snyder
Ethiopia:
In the 11th century, in Ethiopia, the coffee plant was discovered (Turkish Coffee World, 2014). Something curious about the coffee plant though is that it has white blossoms that smell like jasmine, as well as a red, cherry-like fruit (Turkish Coffee World, 2014). Much like how we envision coffee in the 21st Century as a beverage that appears to give those who drink it a jubilant feeling and one of contentment, in the days of its discovery, it was believed to be a plant possessing “magical fruit” (Turkish Coffee World, 2014). The leaves of this “magical fruit” were then boiled in water, creating a beverage that was thought to have medicinal properties (Turkish Coffee World, 2014), thus, creating a metaphorical “high,” like a sense of euphoria.
Yemen:
From Ethiopia, the coffee traveled to the Arabian Peninsula very rapidly (Turkish Coffee World, 2014). Then, in Yemen, in the 14th Century and the 300 years that followed, coffee was prepared just as it was in Ethiopia, using the same recipe (Turkish Coffee World, 2014). Geographically, Yemen is great for cultivating coffee due to its ideal soil and climate. (Turkish Coffee World, 2014).
Istanbul:
In 1555, Istanbul, Turkey was introduced to coffee. This was also during the reign of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent by Özdemir Pasha, the Ottoman Governor of Yemen (Turkish Coffee World, 2014). Around this time, a new method of brewing coffee was discovered: the beans were ground and roasted over a fire, then placed in water.This is also where the introduction of the fine smell of coffee came from (Turkish Coffee World, 2014). Complementary to this, the world was introduced to its first coffee house, Kiva Han (Turkish Coffee World, 2014) which instilled many other coffee houses in its midst, thus, coffee house culture came about.
Türk Kahvesi – Bakir Cezve
by Eaeeae , used under 
Europe and the rest of the World:
With the inception of coffee houses in parts of Asia and Africa, Europe was soon to follow with Venice getting its hands on coffee in 1615. Then, like wildfire, coffee spread once again to France, first to Marseilles, then to Paris, then to Vienna, Austria, followed by London, England, the Netherlands (Holland, specifically), Germany, then to North America in 1688 (Turkish Coffee World, 2014). During the mid-19th Century, then, was the around the time coffee became one of the most important commodities of world trade (Turkish World Coffee, 2014).
Evolution of Social Meeting Ground/Social Interaction:
With the inception of Coffee houses back in 1555, they have been nothing short of prodigious to society as a whole. Coffee houses were invented not only to consume the wonderful walnut-colored beverage, but to converse, read and eat with those who have similar, or in many cases dissimilar viewpoints. With coffee houses come Ideologists, Philosophers, writers, artists, intellectuals, or the occasional “Average Joe,” to speak on artistic and literary innovations (Painitz, 2014). Amongst all of the Philosophers, Ideologists, etc. talking about artistic or literary grievances and/or pleasures, there are those who do not wish to get in the middle of the politics and possibly be influenced by others. Ergo, there are always newspapers lying around (Painitz, 2014). Albeit, the thinkers of the time received their information from these; the newspapers were highly paramount for it would allow others to retain an opinion but may not prime them to utter said opinion and reflect upon it themselves. Many of the aforementioned figures argue that if not for coffee houses, there may not have been a place to discuss these topics (Painitz, 2014). Knowing what kind of impact coffee houses have placed on society today, it is any wonder why 500 hundred plus years had passed–since the discovery of the first coffee plant– before one was built.
Menu & Atmosphere
As one may know, coffee houses in different cultures, geographical locations, or even different sides of the street could serve many of the same items, but with variations on its preparation, presentation or even its label. With that, though, if items that are similar can be served, so can those that are much different.
Here is a short video on Coffee houses in Vienna, Austria belaboring more on the previous points:
For those inquiring on making Turkish Coffee, here is the “how-to” on preparing it by the President of Turkishcoffeeworld.com, Mustafa Arat:
Coffee House Culture Citations:
History of Coffee: Turkish Coffee World. (2014). Retrieved March 2014, from http://www.turkishcoffeeworld.com/History_of_Coffee_s/60.htm
Coffeehouse Evolution: Painitz, S. (2014, March 27). Coffeehouses: evolution of social meeting ground and social interaction in europe notes. Indianapolis, IN, USA.
Images:
Abstract Gourmet. (Photographer). Yemen Mocha Ismali – mid pour [Web Photo]. Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/abstractgourmet/88516726/in/photolist-8PEWs-Hxp8b-4ny5Pd-faH82b-4ny5od-NH76R-bMEFYX-PvoDB-89EpeT-6px1Cf-7usrkt-85GTAf-8PEWi-94kduv-6pt4NT-CR3eo-vcDei-4PvaoA-7zkguf-bAUFsm-6u3nDq-8hoCfP-8hrSkE-4CFbnL-68gzwt-68kMKd-8K8zH7-68kMM3-4qz5eo-4qz5kA-4quZYP-4qv1nH-4qv1xz-4qz5SE-4qz5JS-4Pv9YG-4Pv9Db-8QkixM-dyHPRa-4TURnR-agvZtb-5x5pP-7Z44b9-GaUGL-5rThA8-iKkai-VFiM-5rTmiZ-4XJx2u-aDZZq3/
Kahvesi, T. (Photographer), 2013. Bakir Cezve [Web Photo]. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Türk_Kahvesi_-_Bakir_Cezve.jpg
Kim, S. (Photographer). Empty Coffee [Print Photo]. Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/samkim/463780005/in/photolist-dEi1yy-2sJmQh-4HuA6J-6L6jKT-cQyCr-fwVBPr-4HquPv-GYZCZ-6w6mj1-4Hez88-4vhGha-8gtNE5-agbZnU-4N6nCC-2jJos8-z96Jc-9UyxVQ-5uZ6s8-9vatNK-8aS8qL-5HGZ1a-9kCs2P-8s3zsX-d1Pow5-8UL6Kp-aVsowe-9iqDfH-9iqCSz-9itKSw-8qvSED-9UvGzZ-9UyyF3-9Uyxg3-a9vjWb-7v4y8e-5qQ7yf-9Ei4xv-5g3p6j-9RvfKP-dEkJXH-dEkLaR-7vUq5n-fnUjD-8phqSU-a9voSb-78Yy4U-4eVknz-c1UDB9-4Rjk15-4sRuM7
Woods, P. (Photographer). [Web Photo]. Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/clanlife/6481141461/in/photolist-9NqL47-9No4ei-9NqMQ3-9NqLQd-9No2F4-9No3na-9NqGR3-9NnUjX-9NnXnt-9NnYa8-9NqR4E-9NqG1N-a2QUgh-a2N16F-6GQ4D2-aSHxyi-9NnWnF-6TqW3L-P8FqV-aSHxCD-aSHxLp-aSHxHc-bn1X9i-bn1WGR-bn21RD-bn1VVi-bn214i-bn1X5R-bn1YGZ-bn1ZYi-bn211X-bn1YXK-bn1WDF-bn21sz-bn1WZi-bn1VPt-bn1Xft-bn1Ybg-bn1Ywp-bn21gk-bn1Zwv-bn1ZhF-bn1VYT-bn1YB8-bn21d6-bn21aa-bn1ZkH-bn21Ek-bn1Wyv-bn1Yok