History of Turkish Coffee
and How to Make It

History

Turkish coffee history starts in 1543. The Governor of Yemen, Ozdemir Pasha brought the coffee he admired to Istanbul and offer to Suleiman the Magnificent who was the Sultan of Ottoman. Sultan Suleiman loved the coffee so much. In the beginning, when it was just serving in the palace drink, started to spread to the whole country.

Ingredients of Turkish Coffee 

It is really easy to make Turkish coffee and just a couple of ingredients are needed. 

1. Water
2. Roasted and ground coffee (Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi is the most preferred local brand for it)
3. Sugar (optional)

Traditionally it cooks with a unique type of pot it names is ‘’Cezve’’. Believes that the coffee cooking in this pot creates a better taste. But since it is difficult to find it in a country different than Turkey It can make in a regular pot.

Making Turkish Coffee

First drinking water is measured with a Turkish coffee cup and put in the pot. Then 

 For each cup, 2 teaspoons of coffee are added to the pot, if you want to make the coffee sweet sugar also is added to it. Stir the coffee thoroughly over low heat. After a while, the rising foam is divided into the cups. The remaining coffee is cooked one more time and poured into the cups. It is customary to give water with it while serving Turkish Coffee. Drinking water prepares the mouth for the flavor of coffee and also putting chocolate or Turkish delight is so common and traditional.

PS: It should be bubbles on the top of the Turkish coffee cup. If there is not it means it does not prepare well. Also if you feel a watery taste while you are drinking that the coffee you made means you made something wrong. The taste should be strongly aromatic!

6 Features about the Turkish Coffee

1. Turkish coffee is the world's oldest coffee preparation method.
2. It is different from all coffees in the world with its preparation and presentation. Because you cook Turkish coffee, not to brew.
3. Coffee cup reading is a unique tradition for Turkish coffee.
4. Since the coffee has settled to the bottom, it does not need filtering. It is unique with this feature.
5. Since sugar is put in the cooking stage, it does not need any additional preparation.
6. Stay warm for longer thanks to its foam and traditional thin cups.

Coffee Cup Readers and History of It

To better understand the relationship between fortune-telling and coffee, we have to go to the Ottoman palace. Fortune-telling on coffee becomes traditional when the concubines in the palace say what they cannot say or cannot express by looking at the coffee cup.

It is obvious that some traditions also contribute to socialization. 

From past to present, Coffee cup reading has also been used as a kind of troubling, inner pouring and relieving tool, especially among women. Often it has been a translator of feelings, revealing intentions and growing hopes.

Of course, there is a ritual in coffee cup reading. After the Turkish coffee is drunk, the plate is covered over the cup and turned over by making a wish. Then a metal such as a coin or a ring is placed on the top of the inverted cup to cool quickly. After it cools down well, the cup is opened saying "Let my fortune show my state".

First starts with reading the cup. After the period of looking at the cup is finished, the grounds on the plate are poured into the cup, while the shapes on the plate are thought to represent the household. 

If good things are said through the coffee cup reading, it is said that the cup and plate should be washed as soon as the reading is over. That is a pleasant action full of sweet rituals to have a coffee cup reading. Therefore, those who drink Turkish coffee do not believe in fortunes cannot remain without fortunes.