83
82
The Ottoman invasions and sieges introduced coffee to the old world which quickly became fashionable. Coffee spread voraciously throughout the
cities in the form of coffee houses, which became the unofficial headquarters for political speakers. Vienna is world renowned for its coffee shops and cafes, which are
deeply embedded in their culture. The merchants of Venice, with a keen eye for new opportunities, immediately recognised the value in these special beans which had the
power to keep one awake. However, it was by chance that the first Coffee house in Vienna after the Ottoman siege in 1683 was opened, as the invaders left behind them a
substantial quantity of coffee beans (part of their essential supplies).