Public coffee houses, usually associated with Sufism, first gained popularity in the 16th century. The first coffee houses opened in Cairo, Egypt, around an important religious university and slowly spread throughout the region. People would visit these venues to drink coffee, listen to music, play chess and talk about current affairs and religion.

Coffee comes from a flowering bush-like plant that grows cherries. Once ripened, they’re picked, processed and dried. Each cherry contains two or three seeds, which the average person would recognize as coffee “beans.”

A life-threatening caffeine overdose is extremely rare, but it is possible. According to a medical review from 2018, most deaths are accidental and the culprit is over-the-counter medication, not beverages. The FDA suggests drinking 400 milligrams of caffeine per day at maximum to stay safe. That’s an estimated four 8-ounce cups of brewed coffee.

Many religious leaders in 1511 attempted to ban the beverage because they believed it stimulated radical thinking. In the 16th century, clergymen in Italy thought it to be "satanic" and also tried to ban it. However, it is believed that Pope Clement VII lifted that ban because he enjoyed coffee a lot. The Swedish government in the 18th century also tried to ban coffee and items to related for fear it had an association to rebellious sentiments.