The article from Al Jazeera delves into the complex history of coffee, detailing four notable instances where its consumption incited anger among authorities. It highlights how coffee transitioned from its origins in Yemen to a fundamental part of social life in Muslim cities and Europe. Despite its eventual popularity, coffee was once deemed dangerous by rulers fearing its potential to incite rebellious thoughts and social unrest.

Starting in the 16th century, coffee emerged in Yemen as a crucial beverage among Sufi mystics, believed to facilitate spiritual reflection and alertness during long hours of prayer. As it spread to the Hejaz region and cities like Mecca, coffeehouses became vibrant social hubs distinct from traditional markets and mosques, fostering dialogue and community engagement. This evolution of coffee's role in society worried political leaders, who recognised the drink's capacity to disrupt social hierarchies and enable dissent.

In 1511, the governor of Mecca, Amir Khair Bey, feared that these gathering spotted by coffee would evolve into venues for gossip and political dissent, prompting him to ban it as a measure to maintain social order. The article illustrates how, time and again, coffee has been at the intersection of culture and politics, symbolising both a communal experience and a challenge to authority, making it a recurrent theme in the broader narrative of societal change throughout history.