The Sharjah International Foundation for the History of Arab and Muslim Sciences (SIFHAMS) held its 6th Scholars Talk featuring Prof. Dr. Ali Çaksu, who delivered a lecture on “Turkish Coffee, Society and Culture in 17th Century Europe." Prof. Çaksu explored the origins of coffee in Yemen, its spread through the Arab world to Istanbul, and its eventual arrival in Europe. He highlighted early opposition to coffee in Europe especially from the Church, which branded it an “evil Muslim drink"—and examined the political nature of resistance to cafés as spaces of public discourse. Focusing on Britain and Germany, he discussed how cafés became hubs for political conversation, leading to official bans that were eventually overturned by public demand. Over time, coffee gained acceptance for its intellectual benefits and became part of European life. The lecture concluded with reflections on modern cultural tensions, such as the renaming of Turkish coffee due to political disputes and controversies over traditional foods like kebab in Europe.
