How did the Ottoman Empire help spread coffee?

The Ottoman Empire played a pivotal role in the global spread of coffee by integrating the beverage into its social and cultural fabric. After coffeehouses, known as qahveh khanehs, appeared in Constantinople in the 16th century, they became vibrant social hubs where people gathered to discuss politics, news, and philosophy.1

The expansion of the Ottoman Empire facilitated the movement of the beverage to new territories, eventually introducing it to Europe during the 16th and 17th centuries. Although religious and political leaders occasionally attempted to ban these establishments due to the free discourse they encouraged, the popularity of coffee as a daily ritual proved impossible to suppress. By the end of the 17th century, the influence of this culture helped coffee flourish across Britain, the American colonies, and continental Europe.1