Sultan Murad IV, who ruled the Ottoman Empire from 1623 to 1640, imposed a sweeping ban on coffee, alcohol, and tobacco. His reasoning was not merely personal preference but a calculated response to political instability and social unrest. At the time, coffeehouses had become more than places to enjoy a warm beverage—they were hubs of intellectual discourse, where poets, scholars, and common citizens gathered to discuss politics and governance. Murad IV, known for his authoritarian rule, saw these gatherings as breeding grounds for dissent and conspiracy.
He feared that unchecked discussions could fuel rebellion against his reign, especially in a period when the empire was facing internal strife and external threats. Beyond politics, there were religious and health concerns. Some Islamic scholars of the era debated whether coffee had intoxicating effects similar to alcohol, which was strictly forbidden in Islam.
Murad IV, taking a hardline stance, equated coffee consumption with moral decay and social disorder. His enforcement methods were brutal—he reportedly patrolled the streets of Constantinople in disguise, personally executing those caught violating the ban. Despite these harsh measures, coffee remained deeply ingrained in Ottoman culture, and the ban was lifted after his death. Murad IV’s prohibition ultimately failed, but it highlighted the enduring power of coffee as a social and political force.
The Rise of Coffeehouses—Why They Were Seen as a Threat
By the early 17th century, coffeehouses had become a defining feature of Ottoman society. These establishments were more than just places to enjoy a strong cup of coffee—they were hubs of intellectual exchange, political debate, and social interaction. Unlike the rigid hierarchies of the palace or the mosque, coffeehouses provided a rare space where merchants, scholars, and commoners could gather as equals. Conversations flowed freely, touching on everything from literature and philosophy to the latest political developments. This newfound openness, however, alarmed the ruling elite, particularly Sultan Murad IV, who saw these discussions as a potential breeding ground for dissent.
The Ottoman government’s unease was not without precedent. Throughout history, rulers have feared spaces where people congregate to exchange ideas freely. In the Ottoman Empire, coffeehouses were compared to the mosques in terms of their ability to shape public opinion—but unlike mosques, they operated outside the control of religious and state authorities.
With coffee fueling late-night debates and satire aimed at the ruling class, these establishments became viewed as potential threats to political stability. Sultan Murad IV, who ruled from 1623 to 1640, took this perceived danger seriously, ultimately deciding that coffeehouses needed to be controlled—or eliminated altogether. Beyond politics, there were also economic concerns. The coffee trade flourished, and its popularity created a lucrative but unregulated industry. Many coffeehouses operated independently of state oversight, which meant lost tax revenue and a growing class of influential coffee merchants. The government’s inability to control this new economic force added to the anxiety surrounding coffeehouses.
The sultan feared that the unchecked spread of coffee culture could lead to a shift in power dynamics—one that might weaken his grip on the empire. Perhaps most critically, coffeehouses became notorious for spreading rumors and revolutionary ideas. News traveled quickly in these establishments, faster than official government proclamations. With no way to regulate what was being said, officials worried that coffeehouses could serve as incubators for rebellion. In response, Murad IV took drastic measures, enforcing a strict ban on coffee and shutting down coffeehouses across the empire.
His crackdown on coffee consumption was not just about public health or morality—it was a calculated move to suppress potential unrest before it could take root. Murad IV’s response to the rise of coffeehouses was extreme, but his fears were not entirely unfounded. Similar patterns emerged in Europe, where coffeehouses became centers of revolutionary thought during the Enlightenment and the French Revolution. The Ottoman sultan’s attempt to stifle political discourse through a coffee ban highlights the power these establishments held in shaping public opinion. Even though the ban was eventually lifted after his death, the controversy surrounding coffeehouses underscores the longstanding tension between rulers and spaces of free expression.
How the Ban on Coffee Was Enforced—Harsh Punishments and Secret Cafés
Sultan Murad IV’s prohibition of coffee in the Ottoman Empire was not a mere decree—it was a brutal campaign enforced with an iron fist. Unlike previous rulers who attempted to curb coffee consumption through taxation or fines, Murad IV took a far more extreme approach. His ban, issued in the early 17th century, categorized coffee alongside alcohol and tobacco, all of which he believed cultivated dissent and moral corruption. The punishment for violating the ban? Death.
To ensure compliance, Murad IV personally patrolled the streets of Constantinople in disguise, wielding a massive broadsword. Eyewitness accounts suggest that he would execute offenders on the spot if caught drinking coffee. His network of enforcers, including spies and soldiers, scoured the city for hidden coffeehouses, which were seen as breeding grounds for political unrest. Some reports even claim that repeat offenders were sewn into leather sacks and thrown into the Bosphorus—a grim warning to others.
Yet, despite the sultan’s draconian measures, coffee culture persisted underground. Secret cafés sprang up in the back alleys of Constantinople, where patrons used elaborate signaling systems to avoid detection. The resilience of these clandestine establishments proved that even under the threat of death, the Ottomans’ love for coffee could not be extinguished.
The Role of Coffee in Political Dissent and Rebellion
The coffeehouses of the Ottoman Empire were more than mere meeting places—they were nerve centers of political discussion, intellectual exchange, and, at times, outright rebellion. By the mid-16th century, coffeehouses had become widespread in cities like Istanbul, serving as gathering spots where men of all social classes—scholars, merchants, soldiers, and commoners—could congregate freely. This egalitarian nature made them unique in an empire where social stratification was rigid. Unlike mosques or government institutions, coffeehouses allowed for open debate, making them fertile ground for political dissent.
Sultan Murad IV, who ruled from 1623 to 1640, saw these establishments as a direct threat to his authority. He understood that the exchange of ideas could lead to organized opposition, particularly among the Janissaries, the elite military corps who had a history of influencing political affairs. Coffeehouses became spaces where grievances against the state were aired, criticism of the sultan was whispered, and, in some cases, rebellion was planned. Murad IV’s response was draconian—he banned coffee, along with tobacco and alcohol, and enforced the prohibition with brutal efficiency. Those caught drinking coffee risked severe punishments, including execution.
Despite the ban, underground cafés flourished. Secret coffeehouses operated in concealed locations, and smuggling networks ensured a steady supply of the forbidden beverage. The resilience of these coffeehouses underscored their importance—not just as places of leisure but as institutions of resistance. In later years, similar patterns emerged elsewhere. In 18th-century Europe, coffeehouses played a significant role in revolutionary movements, from the American Revolution to the French Enlightenment. The Ottoman coffeehouses, in many ways, set the precedent for the role of cafés as incubators of political change.
Murad IV’s coffee prohibition ultimately failed. After his death in 1640, his successors lifted the ban, unable to suppress the cultural and political significance of coffeehouses. The sultan’s attempt to control dissent by restricting a beverage may seem extreme today, but it highlights an enduring truth: spaces for free discussion—whether in 17th-century Istanbul or modern-day societies—are viewed as threats by authoritarian regimes.
Other Rulers Who Tried (and Failed) to Ban Coffee
Murad IV wasn’t the only ruler who tried—and failed—to eliminate coffee. Across different regions and centuries, various leaders attempted to outlaw the beverage, frequently citing concerns about public order, economic impact, or even moral decay. Yet, despite these efforts, coffee always found a way to survive.
In 1511, the Governor of Mecca issued one of the earliest known coffee bans, fearing that the drink encouraged radical thought and political dissent. However, the ban was short-lived. The Sultan of Cairo, holding greater authority over the region, overturned the decision, recognizing coffee’s importance in social and economic life. A century later, in Europe, Italian clergymen condemned coffee as a “satanic beverage.” Their opposition nearly succeeded—until Pope Clement VIII tasted the drink himself. Finding it delightful, he humorously suggested giving it a Christian “baptism,” effectively securing coffee’s acceptance in Catholic Europe.
In Sweden, King Gustav III took a more scientific approach. In 1746, he ordered an experiment in which convicted prisoners were forced to drink large quantities of coffee daily to prove its harmful effects. Ironically, the prisoners outlived the doctors conducting the study, and Gustav’s assassination prevented any final conclusions. Meanwhile, in Prussia, Frederick the Great sought to curb coffee consumption in 1781, arguing that beer was a superior national beverage. His policies led to widespread coffee smuggling, and after his death, restrictions were lifted.
Even within the Ottoman Empire, Murad IV wasn’t alone in his crusade against coffee. His predecessor, Sultan Murad III, had already placed restrictions on coffeehouses, fearing they fostered political opposition. Later, Sultan Abdülhamid relied on spies to monitor coffeehouse conversations, attempting to control public discourse rather than outright banning the drink. Yet, none of these measures could suppress the popularity of coffee, which remained central to Ottoman society.
Ultimately, coffee bans proved futile. Whether through political intervention, public defiance, or sheer demand, the beverage always found a way to persist. Today, these failed prohibitions serve as historical footnotes—reminders of how deeply ingrained coffee has been in cultures worldwide, defying the will of kings and sultans alike.
How Coffee Survived the Ban and Became a Global Staple
Despite Murad IV’s ruthless enforcement of his coffee ban, the drink proved remarkably resilient. Coffee had become more than just a beverage—it was a deeply ingrained social and economic force. Even with severe punishments, including execution for those caught consuming or selling coffee, underground coffeehouses continued to thrive. These secret establishments operated discreetly, outside city walls or in hidden alcoves, allowing the culture of coffee drinking to persist in defiance of the sultan’s decree.
Economically, coffee was too valuable to be suppressed indefinitely. The coffee trade had already established itself as a critical part of the Ottoman economy, with merchants and traders profiting from its widespread demand. By the late 16th century, coffee had spread beyond the empire, reaching European markets through Venetian and Dutch traders. The international appeal of coffee made it increasingly difficult for any single ruler to curtail its consumption entirely.
Following Murad IV’s death in 1640, his successor abandoned the harsh prohibition, and coffeehouses quickly reemerged as vital centers of social and political life. From the bustling streets of Istanbul to the cafés of Paris and London, coffee continued its ascent, eventually becoming a global staple. Today, what was once considered a dangerous and subversive drink is now a fundamental part of daily life in cultures around the world.
