If a Jew spends Shabbat in a hotel, may he partake of the freshly-brewed coffee that the non-Jewish hotel staff prepared on Shabbat?
The authorities who address this question make reference to a ruling of the Shulhan Aruch regarding food that a gentile prepared on Shabbat for other gentiles. In such a case, the Shulhan Aruch rules, a Jew may partake of the food only in situations of a special need. Generally, however, one should not partake of the food, even though the gentile had prepared it for other gentiles, and not for the Jew.
Accordingly, the Ben Ish Hai (Rabbi Yosef Haim of Baghdad, 1833-1909), in Parashat Teruma, rules that a Jewish hotel guest may not drink the coffee that the hotel staff prepared, even if he can assume that most of the hotel guests are not Jewish.
Others, however, including the Zera Emet (Rabbi Yishmael of Modona, Italy, 18th century) and the Hida (Rav Haim Yosef David Azulai, 1724-1806), distinguish between the Shulhan Aruch’s ruling and the case under discussion. The Shulhan Aruch spoke of bread which gentiles prepared on Shabbat. The flour used in preparing this bread was inedible when Shabbat began, and thus had the status of Mukse. For this reason, these authorities contend, the Shulhan Aruch did not allow partaking of the bread on Shabbat. Since the flour was Mukse when Shabbat began, it is forbidden for consumption throughout Shabbat even once it is made into bread. In the case of coffee, however, the water was suitable for consumption when Shabbat began, and thus did not have the status of Mukse. Regarding coffee, then, it is likely that the Shulhan Aruch would allow drinking coffee that was prepared on Shabbat by a gentile – provided, of course, that it was not prepared specifically for a Jew.
Accordingly, Hacham Ovadia Yosef, in his Halichot Olam commentary to the Ben Ish Hai, rules that those who wish to be lenient and partake of the coffee in such a situation certainly have authorities on whom to rely. (He adds that the work Gedulat Elisha similarly rules leniently in this regard.) Hacham Ovadia notes, however, that one should not stand near the gentile making the coffee, as the gentile may then add more coffee specifically for the Jew. One may partake of the coffee only if it had already been prepared before the Jew arrived in the dining hall or wherever the coffee is served.
It should be noted that one may not drink cappuccino prepared in a hotel on Shabbat, as cappuccino is generally prepared for each guest individually, and not collectively for all guests in the hotel.
Finally, it goes without saying that the Jew must ascertain that all the ingredients in the coffee are strictly kosher.
Summary: One who stays in a hotel on Shabbat may drink the coffee that was prepared by a gentile for the hotel guests on Shabbat, provided that most of the guests are not Jewish and that the coffee was not prepared specifically for him (or any other Jew). He should not stand near the gentile preparing the coffee, and should instead arrive at the area only after the coffee is prepared. Obviously, he must also ensure that the coffee is strictly kosher.
