Coffee Under Fire: The Resilience of Café Culture in Tehran During Wartime

Global Influences, Local Identity

Tehran’s coffee culture has long been influenced by global trends, from Italian espresso techniques to third-wave coffee movements. During wartime, these influences do not disappear, but they are reframed. Access to imported beans or equipment may be limited, prompting a renewed focus on local resources and innovation.

This shift can strengthen local identity. By adapting global practices to local conditions, Tehran’s cafés create something distinct. The result is a hybrid culture—rooted in international coffee traditions, yet shaped by the specific realities of the city.

Hope in the Everyday

Amid uncertainty, hope often manifests in small, everyday actions. In Tehran’s cafés, this hope is visible in the care taken to prepare each drink, the effort to maintain welcoming spaces, and the willingness of people to gather despite risks. These actions may seem ordinary, but they carry extraordinary significance.

Hope is not always expressed in grand gestures. Sometimes, it is found in the decision to open a café door, to meet a friend, to sit for a while and share a conversation. In this sense, Tehran’s coffee culture during wartime is not just about survival—it is about preserving the conditions for life to continue meaningfully.