What would you call a morning that doesn’t involve coffee? This is definitely not a good day! Coffee has been an essential part to start our day. Not only that, coffee is a drink that remains popular at all times and with all age groups. Today, different coffee shops and even online tea shops are increasing the culture of coffee and tea. Tea, coffee, and other flourishing beverages have become a part of our lives and no one is new to them. Cafeterias are no longer just for coffee. Different cafes and bistros around the block are meeting points and a place to share the latest gossip with your friends.
Coffee culture is basically a media term most popularly used for a social place that is surrounded by a coffee and tea environment all around it. Due to the popularity around the world, there are different forms and different rituals about coffee everywhere.
In Asia, people generally like to drink lighter and sweeter coffee compared to other western countries. Cafes are usually meeting places and social gatherings. The most preferred is Cappuccino. In Northern Europe, coffee is served at parties with homemade cakes, pastries and cookies. Coffee in Turkey becomes slightly different. The beans are fine and the water is boiled about three times and then placed in a long-handled brass pot. Sometimes cardamom or sugar is also added. The French usually drink coffee at the beginning of the day and, for the Germans, it is a drink for social gatherings.
There are also religious boundaries associated with coffee and tea. Different religions have different things to say about coffee. In Islam, tea and coffee are forbidden only at the time of fasting. The fast lasts from sunrise to sunset and all foodstuffs, including water, are forbidden at that time.
Coffee is prohibited for Mormons. Also known as Latter-day Saints, followers of this religion forbid coffee because they believe it blocks their spiritual connections. According to the Words of Wisdom, it is said, “Hot drinks are not for the body or the stomach” (D&C 89: 9). Joseph Smith is interpreted to actually refer to tea and coffee because they were the only hot beverages available at the time.
According to the Seventh-day Adventist, opinions about coffee are somewhat mixed. Previously, they banned it as they heavily emphasize a healthy diet. Therefore, for them it was prohibited because it contained caffeine. However, this view is somewhat out of date now and is no longer implemented. Still, it’s supposed to be avoided.
In Judaism, there are really no problems with coffee. There are problems with kosher. Kosher problems arise from both tea and coffee. Flavored coffee can use different flavorings, flavored beans, and syrups that do not address all kosher issues. The same goes for decaffeinated coffee, as it contains ethyl acetate.
Rastafarians are quite similar to Seventh-day Adventists and generally emphasize a healthy diet. This genre prohibits the use of tobacco, alcohol, salt, coffee, meat, and other processed foods. Their diet depends mainly on cereals, fruits and vegetables.