The unique ritual of the coffee klatsch is owed not only to the enjoyment of coffee itself. While public coffee houses were long considered taboo for women, the social gathering within the home created an opportunity to exchange thoughts on topics that otherwise had few occasions for discussion. Over brewed coffee, liqueur, and exquisite pastries, gossip flourished, female bonds were forged, friendships were made, and a piece of everyday female life was elevated to an art form. Katja Mutschelknaus narrates an exciting chapter of German cultural history and demonstrates how this culinary ritual promoted women's emancipation.