The Discovery Journey of Cappuccino: Coffee Beans Left Behind by the Turks at the Gates of Vienna”

Coffee, an inherent part of every culture, holds a unique place in various countries worldwide. Yet few countries rival Turkey and Italy in transforming it into the world’s number one beverage. In this narrative, I delve into the intriguing history of a coffee type: Cappuccino.

The Story Behind a Beloved Brew: The long-lasting tale of this delightful drink begins in 1683 during the Ottoman siege of Vienna, involving a group of Italian monks and a Polish spy. However, the story dates back 700 years earlier to the port city of Mocha in Yemen, known for its coffee trade.

Let’s start by tracing the origins of the word ‘coffee.’ In Italian, ‘caffè,’ in Dutch ‘koffie,’ morphed into the English ‘coffee,’ while it transitioned from the Arabic term ‘qahwa’ into our language.

Coffee initially found its roots in Ethiopia, with mystic stories involving shepherds relishing the drink. By the 14th century, coffee had reached Yemen, spreading across the Middle East.

The city of Mocha in Yemen served as the heart of coffee trade, exporting coffee beans to the Ottoman Empire and throughout Europe. It’s from this city that ‘mocha coffee’ derived its name.

The Ottoman Empire was the birthplace of what we know today as coffee culture. Historical records indicate the opening of Kiva Han, a coffeehouse, in Istanbul in 1475, followed by thousands across the empire.

These venues weren’t merely about coffee; they embodied social hubs where Ottoman society engaged in socializing, conversations, entertainment, and political discussions.

The introduction of coffee to Europe was facilitated by Ottoman trade through major Italian port cities like Venice and Naples, hence many coffee-related terms have Italian roots. Its arrival in France traces back to an Ottoman envoy’s visit in 1669.

Coffee had a mixed reputation in Europe; doctors praised it for aiding digestion, academics for keeping alert, while religious circles labeled it ‘the devil’s drink’ until Pope Clement VIII approved it.

The first coffeehouse in Europe was established in Venice in 1640. Subsequently, immigrant communities and traders set up coffeehouses, resembling Ottoman ones, spreading across Europe as social centers.

Fast forward to 1683, a date etched in history; the Ottoman army retreated from the gates of Vienna, leaving bags of coffee beans in the hands of Jerzy Franciszek Kulczycki, a Polish diplomat and spy.

Kulczycki opened Vienna’s first coffeehouse with these beans, introducing a revolutionary decision to add milk to coffee. The result? A few drops of milk turning the drink the color of Capuchin friars’ brown robes, hence the modern name ‘cappuccino.’

The 19th century witnessed coffee’s transformation into a global industry, largely due to the Industrial Revolution. Coffee advertisements surged, and European powers operated coffee plantations in colonies, often worked by enslaved laborers.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, coffeehouses in Paris, Vienna, Buenos Aires gained fame as centers for writers and artists. The invention of the espresso machine in 1884 by Angelo Moriondo revolutionized coffee-making.

In the 21st century, coffee culture mirrors a fusion of significant international corporations and expert cafés. However, coffeehouses, established six centuries ago in the Ottoman Empire, have remained largely unchanged.

Coffeehouses continue to be a vital part of Turkish culture, much like Turkish coffee, while we savor Cappuccino in cafes. So, which coffee do you fancy the most? Your thoughts are welcomed in the comments.