How Turkey Secularized Coffee Drinking

In the quiet backstreets of Milan, as evening falls, the air carries the faint trace of roasted coffee—a scent that slows time and softens the edges of the day. In such places, coffee becomes more than a drink. But long before these European cafés became cultural hubs, another empire had already transformed coffee from ritual to routine.

Turkey was the first nation to secularize coffee drinking—over 300 years ago. When Ottoman soldiers retreated from the 1683 Siege of Vienna, they left behind sacks of coffee beans. Locals initially mistook them for camel feed, but soon discovered their true value. A savvy Viennese trader bought the leftover beans and opened the city’s first coffeehouse, sparking Europe’s enduring coffee craze.

The Ottoman Gift: Coffee Without Borders

Coffee originally spread from Yemen, but it was the Ottoman Empire that helped make coffee a secular, everyday social drink. During the 1683 Battle of Vienna, Ottoman troops were defeated and retreated, abandoning numerous sacks of coffee. Though Europeans first thought the beans were animal fodder, they quickly realized these were the same energizing grounds that fueled Ottoman soldiers. A resourceful merchant acquired the discarded beans and established Vienna’s first coffeehouse, effectively introducing continental Europe to coffee culture.

Early Coffee Arrives in Europe: Before the Café

European exposure to coffee began earlier than most assume. Venice merchants first imported coffee in 1615. By that time, other warm beverages were also making their way into European life: hot chocolate arrived from the Americas in 1528 via Spain, and tea was first sold in Europe in 1610. Initially, coffee was peddled by lemonade vendors and viewed largely as having medicinal properties.

The First Coffeehouses: Venice, London, and Beyond

The very first European coffeehouses emerged in Venice around 1683, with Caffè Florian on St. Mark’s Square—opened in 1720—still serving customers today. Notably, London’s famous insurance market, Lloyd’s of London, began as a coffeehouse in 1688. Founded by Edward Lloyd, it provided lists of insured ships to merchants, highlighting how coffeehouses quickly became centers of commerce and information exchange.

Coffeehouses as Creative Catalysts

Coffeehouses have long been intertwined with the arts. Though not formal schools, they nurtured generations of thinkers, writers, and artists. These spaces offered an escape from the mundane, elevating conversation and creativity. Far more than places to drink coffee, they helped shape cultured, engaged citizens—turning casual patrons into contributors of ideas and art.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which country first made coffee a mainstream, non-religious drink?

Turkey, through the Ottoman Empire, was the first to secularize coffee drinking. By the late 17th century, Turkish soldiers had spread coffee across battlefields, and after the Siege of Vienna in 1683, leftover coffee beans were used to open Europe’s first public coffeehouses.

What happened to the coffee beans left behind by Ottoman soldiers in Vienna?

After the Ottoman defeat in the 1683 Siege of Vienna, soldiers left behind many sacks of coffee beans. Locals first thought they were for feeding camels, but a businessman recognized their value, bought the beans, and opened Vienna’s first coffeehouse, launching coffee culture in Europe.

When did coffee first arrive in Europe?

Coffee first arrived in Europe in 1615 via Venice merchants. Other beverages like hot chocolate came earlier in 1528 from Spain (via the Americas), and tea was first sold in Europe in 1610.

Where was the first European coffeehouse opened?

The first European coffeehouses appeared in Venice around 1683. One of the oldest still in operation is Caffè Florian, which opened on St. Mark’s Square in 1720. London’s Lloyd’s of London also started as a coffeehouse in 1688.

Why were early coffee shops important in European history?

Early coffeehouses served as hubs for commerce, creativity, and conversation. They weren’t just places to drink coffee—they fostered the exchange of ideas, supported the arts, and became centers for business, including Lloyd’s of London’s origins as an insurance information hub.

Did coffee have a religious or medical reputation when it first came to Europe?

Yes, when coffee first appeared in Europe, it was often sold by lemonade vendors and seen primarily as having medicinal benefits. Its social and secular role developed later, especially after the establishment of coffeehouses in Venice and Vienna.

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