Every cup of coffee in the world traces its lineage back to the Arab world. The word 'coffee' itself derives from the Arabic qahwa (قهوة). Understanding this history deepens every sip you take from a finjan.
Coffee was first cultivated in Ethiopia, but it was Yemeni Sufi monks in the 15th century who first brewed it as a drink — using it to stay awake during nighttime prayers. From Yemen, coffee spread to Mecca and Cairo, where the first coffeehouses (qahveh khaneh) appeared. These became centers of intellectual life — so much so that they were sometimes called 'schools of the wise.' By the 16th century, coffee had reached Istanbul, and from there, Venice and the rest of Europe. The entire global coffee industry began with an Arab innovation.
The finjan has been the vessel of choice for Arabic coffee since its earliest days. While brewing methods and cup materials have evolved, the essential design — small, handleless, elegant — remains unchanged. Our cups connect you to over 500 years of coffee history.
Shop Our CupsCoffee beans originated in Ethiopia, but the practice of brewing and drinking coffee as a beverage began in Yemen in the 15th century. Arab traders and Sufi monks were the first coffee drinkers.
The small cup reflects the original Yemeni practice of serving small, concentrated portions. It's also practical — gahwa is meant to be sipped fresh and hot, so small pours ensure each cup is at the perfect temperature.