 The coffee tree originated in Ethiopia, and was first cultivated in Arabia. Its potential as a pleasant and mildly stimulating beverage was first recognised by Muslims, who were forbidden alcohol. Its popularity was assured, and in the great days of the Ottoman empire, around 1500, coffee houses sprang up in cities such as Cairo, Aleppo and Damascus. Coffee-drinking became an essential part of social and business rituals. Through European merchants trading in the eastern Mediterranean coffee was gradually introduced into Europe, through Venice, Genoa and Marseilles.
 Coffee in Vienna - The arrival of coffee in Vienna is a famous story. The army of the Ottoman Empire had overcome the Balkans and by 1683 was advancing to besiege Vienna. An adventurer named Kolschitsky swam the Danube and reached the camp of the king of Poland to beg him to speed up his counter-attack. The siege was raised and the Turks retreated, leaving behind several sacks of coffee beans. These were given to Kolschitsky, who opened a coffee house called the Blue Bottle. Initially, the coffee, served black, was not popular, but when milk was added business boomed. At the same time bakers began baking croissants, bread curled at the ends to symbolised the crescent of Islam. Soon there were coffee houses in all the great cities of Europe.
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