[A.J.Armitage]

This is, as far as I know, a true story: when coffee was introduced to Europe by Muslims, some people regarded it as an Islamic drink that should be prohibited, and sent a petition to the Pope to that effect. He decided to try it himself, and said something like "This is too good to leave only for infidels."

[P-Marlowe]

One of the first actual appearances of coffee in Europe during the reign of Pope Clement VIII. The brew was then known to be the drink of choice of Moslems. This immediately alarmed the Vatican who wanted to outlaw the brew as an invention of Satan. The pope,however, had the desire to know learn more about the beverage and fell immediately in love with its aroma. Tempted, he tried a cupful and decided that it was "too good to leave to the infidels," and instead of banning it, he "baptized" it as "a truly Christian beverage."


From : http://www.don-francisco.com/greatmomentsincoffee.asp