The question was asked in Halacha regarding Bishul Akum. Bishul Akum refers to something that was cooked by a non-Jew. We know that we are not allowed to eat items cooked by a non-Jew. But the question today is, what about coffee? It happens many times where Kosher ingredients are used, and a non-Jew is making fresh brewed coffee, and we want to buy it and we want to drink it. They boil the water. They boil the coffee. They made it. Is that a problem of Bishul Akum?
Actually, there’s an interesting Machloket (argument) on this. Some bring down from The Arizal that he wanted to say that it’s forbidden because of Bishul Goyim. However, this Arizal, the way the Mefarshim (learned analysts) explain it, most of them, was that The Arizal was Machmir (strict) on himself, and that it wasn’t something that he was Machmir on other people.
For example, the custom in Baghdad, the Ben Ish Chai writes, was to drink coffee even though it was cooked by non-Jews. But of course, people that were Machmir, people that were extra careful, they would refrain from it.
The Halacha, there are enough Poskim (Rabbis who render the Halacha) to rely on, that the coffee, even though it was made by Goyim, as long as the ingredients are Kosher, it’s permissible. Those opinions include the Peri Chadash, and the opinion of the Ya’abetz, and that is also the opinion of the Radbaz. So therefore, there are enough Rabbis to be lenient on it. Therefore the Halacha Lema’ase, from the law it is permissible to drink Kosher ingredient coffee even though it was made by a non-Jew.
A Machmir who does not have it, like the Arizal, upon him will come Beracha (blessings.)
