Even the circular green logo etched on the windows and printed on the aprons worn by baristas at the four Raees coffee houses in Tehran are so reminiscent of international coffee giant Starbucks – which like most U.S. chains has no presence in the Islamic Republic — that Starbucks tried to sue, according to copies of Tehran court documents seen by Reuters. In many revolutions throughout history, from Paris to Petrograd, the first sparks of rebellion were kindled in these public houses. What began as murmurs of dissatisfaction over drinks evolved into organized calls for reform.
Cafes and bars became informal headquarters for underground newspapers, secret meetings, and passionate debates that shaped the revolutionary mindset. By the time the revolution came, these once ordinary establishments had taken on symbolic power. To sit in a café or bar was to take part in a quiet act of resistance — to question, to imagine, and to hope for a different future.
