Coffee has become a globally renowned aspect of Arabic culture, symbolic of Arabs’ hospitality and devotion to history. Coffee came to Arabia from Ethiopia in the early fifteenth century, first being seen in Mecca in the year 1414. The traditionally recognized form of “Arabic Coffee” emerged in Ottoman Turkey in 1554, and may have been influenced by the brewing styles of Bedouin tribes in the Arabian peninsula. True to its Ottoman roots, modern Arabic coffee bears almost identical resemblance to its Turkish counterpart. Through trade and conquest, the Ottoman Empire’s influence extended into Europe and with it came Arabic coffee. For intellectuals, the practice of drinking it while discussing current events, commonplace in the cafes of Damascus, Beirut, and Cairo, found it’s way into the salons of Paris. Inspired by this lineage, “Arabica Coffee” has become commonplace as a luxury form of the drink in Western coffee shops, but this drink bears little resemblance to its historical namesake.
Traditional Arabic coffee is made in small quantities and served with much care. Beans are ground by hand with a stone mortar and roasted slowly over a charcoal fire, though in modern times these processes are often replaced by more efficient methods. Water is boiled in a medium sized copper pot and sugar is added and slowly stirred while the water boils, the amount of sugar added depends on the occasion, as joyous occasions like weddings and birthdays call for a more sweet drink and somber occasions like funerals call for a more bitter drink. Coffee grounds are then added, occasionally with cardamom or ginger accents as well. The coffee is served in small copper cups and drank while very hot, with only a minute or two given to allow the grounds to settle to the bottom. Serving is a meticulous process, children are taught to pour with their left hand and serve with their right, as the opposite is a sign of disrespect. Older guests are served first and historically men would drink before women, but in modern times that order is often reversed. Hosts will continue to serve their guests until they indicate that they want no more by holding out their cup and shaking it. While westernization has brought to the Arab World cafes serving large cups of coffee quickly, the traditional methods live on in private households and certain restaurants.
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