It was necessary to explain in a post why Turkish coffee, also known as coffee in the Turkish style, is special, as it is much more than a beverage. In fact, it is declared an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. Although it wasn’t discovered here, it did reach the Ottoman Empire before many other parts of the world: in the 16th century, probably during the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent. And since then, it has become an essential element for its citizens.
Preparation and Tasting of Turkish Coffee
From a gastronomic point of view, Turkish coffee is special for its preparation and flavor. A distinguishing feature is that the beans are ground much finer than other coffees, for example, Italian espresso. Therefore, in the preparation filters are not used, so the coffee powder is introduced into the drink itself, but without reaching the mouth, as it remains as grounds at the bottom of the cup.
Briefly, these would be the steps for preparing Turkish coffee:
- The beans are roasted
- The roasted beans are finely ground
- The coffee powder, along with a variable amount of sugar, is boiled in water inside the cezve (small metal pot)
- When the mixture produces foam, it is removed from the heat
The moment of tasting also follows its own protocol, with the following ‘unwritten rules’:
- It is served in a small cup
- It is accompanied by a small glass of water
- It is accompanied by a Turkish delight or loukoum, which ‘sweetens’ the intense flavor of the coffee
Turkish Coffee in the Country’s Culture
But if Turkish coffee became an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, it wasn’t (only) because of its flavor and preparation, but also because of all the tradition that comes with it. In fact, there are many situations in daily life where coffee is necessarily present.
Traditionally, coffee has been considered an ally to make peace: when two neighbors argued over some coexistence issue, they were offered coffees to start their reconciliation.
Turkish coffee has also always had an important presence in marriage proposals. For example, when he and his family went to her house to meet, she had to prepare a good coffee that would convince the future husband of her good skills in this aspect. And legend has it that if the bride didn’t get along with the groom (as in many cases they didn’t know each other beforehand), she would put salt instead of sugar to provoke his rejection.
Even more famous is the belief in the ability of coffee grounds to predict the future: amateurs and even professional seers use their divinatory gifts to interpret the signs left at the bottom of the cup.
Whether or not one believes in these superstitions, the truth is that the moment of having coffee in Turkey is a social act, with friends and family, often as a simple excuse to talk about personal matters. And this has traditionally been reflected in literature, cinema, and other artistic disciplines in Turkey.
Where to Drink or Buy Turkish Coffee
Any local café in any city in the country is good for having a Turkish coffee. And of course, if you’re lucky enough to have a host invite you to one in their own home, the experience will be perfect. But to end the post, we give you two specific proposals that you can find during your trip.
The first one is the Kemeralti neighborhood-bazaar, in Izmir, always vibrant with its establishments but where there’s no shortage of cafes to make a pleasant stop along the way. And if you want to make Turkish coffee at home, the second proposal is the famous Kuru Kahveci Mehmet Efendi store, in the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul. In that case, arm yourself with patience, as the queue is usually long.
