Day 023 — 2026年5月31日(日)に配信

CEFR A2 247 words Food History英検2級

Coffee Was Once Banned in Mecca

— Why a simple drink was treated as a dangerous threat —

英文を読む

文の左のを押すと、その1文だけ読み上げます。まずは辞書を引かずに、最後まで一気に読んでみてください。

Today, coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world. But about 500 years ago, in the city of Mecca, drinking coffee was actually against the law. People could be punished just for having a cup. Why was such a simple drink seen as so dangerous?

Coffee first became popular in the Arab world in the 1400s. Soon, "coffee houses" opened in many cities. People came not only to drink, but also to talk, play games, share news, and discuss politics. For the first time, ordinary people had a place outside the home or mosque where they could gather freely.

In 1511, the governor of Mecca, a man named Khair Beg, became worried. He believed that people in coffee houses were laughing too much, making jokes about leaders, and maybe even planning to cause trouble. He also said the drink made people "too awake" and changed their behavior. So he decided to ban coffee in the holy city.

For a short time, coffee beans were even burned in the streets. But the ban did not last long. People loved coffee too much, and the higher leader in Cairo soon told Khair Beg to lift the rule and allow the drink again.

Later in history, coffee was also banned in places like Sweden and even parts of Italy, often for the same reasons: politics, fear, or money. Each time, however, coffee came back stronger. Today, it is the world's most loved morning drink.

4問に答える

選ぶとその場で正誤と解説が出ます。

0/4

Q1 因果推論

What worried the governor of Mecca most about coffee houses?

Q2 推論

Why were coffee houses socially important at that time?

Q3 内容の照合

How did the ban in Mecca end?

Q4 主旨

What pattern does the writer point out in the history of coffee bans?

日本語訳（段落ごとの対訳）

01Today, coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world. But about 500 years ago, in the city of Mecca, drinking coffee was actually against the law. People could be punished just for having a cup. Why was such a simple drink seen as so dangerous?

今やコーヒーは世界で最も愛される飲み物の1つ。でも約500年前、聖地メッカではコーヒーを飲むことが法律で禁止されていました。コーヒーを持っているだけで罰せられたんです。なぜこんなシンプルな飲み物が、それほど危険視されたんでしょう？

02Coffee first became popular in the Arab world in the 1400s. Soon, "coffee houses" opened in many cities. People came not only to drink, but also to talk, play games, share news, and discuss politics. For the first time, ordinary people had a place outside the home or mosque where they could gather freely.

コーヒーは15世紀のアラブ世界で広まり始め、各地に「コーヒーハウス」が誕生しました。人々はそこで飲むだけでなく、おしゃべりをし、ゲームをし、ニュースを交換し、政治を語り合った。庶民にとって「家でもモスクでもない、自由に集まれる場所」が初めてできたんです。

03In 1511, the governor of Mecca, a man named Khair Beg, became worried. He believed that people in coffee houses were laughing too much, making jokes about leaders, and maybe even planning to cause trouble. He also said the drink made people "too awake" and changed their behavior. So he decided to ban coffee in the holy city.

1511年、メッカの総督カイル・ベグは心配し始めました。「コーヒーハウスでは笑い声が多すぎる。指導者をからかうジョークも飛び交い、もしかしたら反乱を計画しているのかもしれない」。彼はまた、コーヒーは「人を覚醒させすぎて行動を変える」とも主張。聖地での飲用禁止を決めたんですね。

04For a short time, coffee beans were even burned in the streets. But the ban did not last long. People loved coffee too much, and the higher leader in Cairo soon told Khair Beg to lift the rule and allow the drink again.

一時期、コーヒー豆は街頭で焼き払われたほど。でもこの禁止令は長くは続きませんでした。人々はコーヒーが大好きすぎたんです。やがてカイロの上位指導者がカイル・ベグに「禁令を解け」と命じ、飲用は再び許可されました。

05Later in history, coffee was also banned in places like Sweden and even parts of Italy, often for the same reasons: politics, fear, or money. Each time, however, coffee came back stronger. Today, it is the world's most loved morning drink.

その後もコーヒーはスウェーデンやイタリアの一部で禁止令を経験しました。理由は同じく政治・恐怖・お金。それでもコーヒーは禁止されるたびに、より強くなって戻ってきたんです。今では世界一愛される朝の飲み物——禁じる側がいつも負けてきたわけですね^^

この英文の語句

ban B1 禁止する
governor B2 総督、知事
law A2 法律
gather B1 集まる
politics B1 政治
trouble A2 面倒、騒動
behavior B1 ふるまい
lift B2 (禁止令を)解除する

目から鱗の豆知識

へえ！

コーヒーの「禁止の歴史」は世界中に広がっています。1633年オスマン帝国のムラト4世は、コーヒーを飲んだだけで死刑にする厳しい法律を作りました(本当に処刑された人もいたとか)。1746年スウェーデンでは、王が禁止しようと「コーヒーを飲ませた囚人と紅茶を飲ませた囚人、どちらが先に死ぬか」を実験したという有名な逸話も(結果はどちらも長生き、王のほうが先に死亡)。17世紀ロンドンのコーヒーハウスは "Penny Universities" と呼ばれ、1ペニーのコーヒーで知的議論に参加できる場所として、近代ジャーナリズムや株式市場の発祥地となりました。コーヒーは単なる飲み物じゃなく、「自由な議論の象徴」だったんですね^^

もう一つ

コーヒーハウスは、その後世界を動かす場所になります。ロンドンでは1杯1ペニーで誰でも議論に加われたため「ペニー大学」と呼ばれ、そこから生まれた組織が今も残っています。船乗りと商人が集まったエドワード・ロイドの店は保険のロイズに、株の売買人が集まった店はロンドン証券取引所になりました。為政者が恐れたとおり、コーヒーハウスは本当に世の中を変えてしまったわけです^^

この英文で拾っておきたい表現

be against the law 法に反している illegal より口語的。会話で使いやすい
lift a ban 禁止を解除する lift は「制限を取り除く」。lift restrictions も同じ
not only A but also B AだけでなくBも本文は not only to drink, but also to talk... の形

もっと解きたい人へ

無限モードで100日ぶんから出題させる AIを待たずに、この場で。読解・文のつながり・語彙・空所補充・語形・前置詞・語順・聞き取りが、尽きることなく出てきます。手ごたえも3段階から選べます。 この話題で、新しい長文を書いてもらう 「Coffee Was Once Banned in Mecca」に関連する英文を、AIはらだくんがその場で書きます。英検2級〜1級までレベルを選べて、4問つき。読んだら押して答えられます。

朝活英語100連発|原田英語.com

Day 023

Coffee Was Once Banned in Mecca

CEFR A2英検2級247 words2026年5月31日(日) 配信 Name

Reading

1Today, coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world. But about 500 years ago, in the city of Mecca, drinking coffee was actually against the law. People could be punished just for having a cup. Why was such a simple drink seen as so dangerous?

2Coffee first became popular in the Arab world in the 1400s. Soon, "coffee houses" opened in many cities. People came not only to drink, but also to talk, play games, share news, and discuss politics. For the first time, ordinary people had a place outside the home or mosque where they could gather freely.

3In 1511, the governor of Mecca, a man named Khair Beg, became worried. He believed that people in coffee houses were laughing too much, making jokes about leaders, and maybe even planning to cause trouble. He also said the drink made people "too awake" and changed their behavior. So he decided to ban coffee in the holy city.

4For a short time, coffee beans were even burned in the streets. But the ban did not last long. People loved coffee too much, and the higher leader in Cairo soon told Khair Beg to lift the rule and allow the drink again.

5Later in history, coffee was also banned in places like Sweden and even parts of Italy, often for the same reasons: politics, fear, or money. Each time, however, coffee came back stronger. Today, it is the world's most loved morning drink.

Questions

What worried the governor of Mecca most about coffee houses?
1. AThat people were spending too much money on coffee
2. BThat they were taking customers away from the mosque
3. CThat people were gathering, joking about leaders, and possibly planning trouble
4. DThat the drink was making people fall asleep at work
Why were coffee houses socially important at that time?
1. AThey were the first places to sell news in printed form
2. BThey were the only buildings open at night
3. CThey gave ordinary people a place to gather outside home and mosque
4. DThey allowed women to meet men in public
How did the ban in Mecca end?
1. AThe governor changed his mind after trying coffee
2. BA higher leader in Cairo ordered it to be lifted
3. CMerchants paid the government to allow it again
4. DIt slowly stopped being enforced over many years
What pattern does the writer point out in the history of coffee bans?
1. ABans always came from religious leaders
2. BCoffee was banned for political or economic reasons, and always returned
3. CEach ban lasted longer than the one before
4. DCoffee was banned wherever it was too expensive

Day 023 — Coffee Was Once Banned in Mecca|解答・語句・全訳

Answers

C That people were gathering, joking about leaders, and possibly planning trouble

"laughing too much, making jokes about leaders, and maybe even planning to cause trouble" が根拠。眠気ではなく "too awake"（目が冴えすぎる）と書かれている点にも注意。逆の症状を置く選択肢は定番のワナです。
C They gave ordinary people a place to gather outside home and mosque

"For the first time, ordinary people had a place outside the home or mosque where they could gather freely." が根拠。For the first time（初めて）は、その出来事の重みを示す合図。飲み物の話が社会の話に変わる転換点です。
B A higher leader in Cairo ordered it to be lifted

"the higher leader in Cairo soon told Khair Beg to lift the rule" が根拠。lift＝（禁止を）解除する。持ち上げる意味しか知らないと、この一文だけ意味が取れなくなります。
B Coffee was banned for political or economic reasons, and always returned

"often for the same reasons: politics, fear, or money. Each time, however, coffee came back stronger." が根拠。繰り返される型を示すのがこの段落の役目。宗教だけに絞る選択肢は、スウェーデンやイタリアの例と合いません。

Key Words

banB1禁止する
governorB2総督、知事
lawA2法律
gatherB1集まる
politicsB1政治
troubleA2面倒、騒動
behaviorB1ふるまい
liftB2(禁止令を)解除する

日本語訳

1今やコーヒーは世界で最も愛される飲み物の1つ。でも約500年前、聖地メッカではコーヒーを飲むことが法律で禁止されていました。コーヒーを持っているだけで罰せられたんです。なぜこんなシンプルな飲み物が、それほど危険視されたんでしょう？

2コーヒーは15世紀のアラブ世界で広まり始め、各地に「コーヒーハウス」が誕生しました。人々はそこで飲むだけでなく、おしゃべりをし、ゲームをし、ニュースを交換し、政治を語り合った。庶民にとって「家でもモスクでもない、自由に集まれる場所」が初めてできたんです。

31511年、メッカの総督カイル・ベグは心配し始めました。「コーヒーハウスでは笑い声が多すぎる。指導者をからかうジョークも飛び交い、もしかしたら反乱を計画しているのかもしれない」。彼はまた、コーヒーは「人を覚醒させすぎて行動を変える」とも主張。聖地での飲用禁止を決めたんですね。

4一時期、コーヒー豆は街頭で焼き払われたほど。でもこの禁止令は長くは続きませんでした。人々はコーヒーが大好きすぎたんです。やがてカイロの上位指導者がカイル・ベグに「禁令を解け」と命じ、飲用は再び許可されました。

5その後もコーヒーはスウェーデンやイタリアの一部で禁止令を経験しました。理由は同じく政治・恐怖・お金。それでもコーヒーは禁止されるたびに、より強くなって戻ってきたんです。今では世界一愛される朝の飲み物——禁じる側がいつも負けてきたわけですね^^