Sipping Turkish coffee to learn the peculiar culture and rituals
Place the super-finely coffee in a cezve pot and heat in the sand, no stirring or adding milk during the brewing process, to create a liquid as black as hell and as sweet as true love, yes, that’s all about the unique Turkish coffee. The Turkish coffee-drinking culture dates back to nearly a decade, but since the ban on alcoholic beverages, the drink has been more thriving, even becoming a UNESCO intangible heritage. For the Turks, drinking coffee is not simply about enjoying the flavor and the aroma, yet playing pivotal roles in their rituals, equally showing the host’s affection for the guests, and also being a drink of prophecy.
History of Turkish coffee
Turkish coffee refers to a brewing method, not a typical coffee type. The story behind it also leaves a lot of impressions. In 1555, two Syrian merchants brought coffee to Istanbul. At that time, the drink was called “the milk of chess players and thinkers”, marking a milestone for the development of coffee in Turkey.
Since then, at the beginning of the 16th century, coffee shops appeared in some places, especially in central areas and towns. Gradually, as their popularity grew, coffee shops came to be meeting centers for multiple cultural and political organizations of the country. Until the early years of the 17th century, coffee became a drink for the Ottoman Empire; there were even 40 people who only served coffee for the emperor.
What is special about Turkish coffee culture?
Although there is a wide range of coffee types nowadays, Turks only use pure Arabica coffee. They usually roast and finely ground the coffee, then brew in a special boiling style.
In Istanbul, the coffee will be prepared in a cezve pot (or ibrik). The main ingredients include finely-roasted coffee, sugar, little spices, and especially cold water, not boiling water as usual. The final liquid is presented in small porcelain cups called kahve finjani.
In addition to specially-designed brewing gadgets, people also use sand to heat the coffee as this is a good heat-retaining material, helping to make the heat evenly distributed. A pan of sand is roasted on medium heat below, when you put the cup in, the coffee will quickly boil.
During the brewing process, the barista doesn’t use a spoon to stir, but wait for the sediment to settle down completely; therefore, to feel the true taste of Turkish coffee, the drinker needs to be extremely patient and relaxed.
How to make authentic Turkish coffee
Initially, add sugar and other spices to the finely-ground coffee, then put the mixture in a cezve pot and add cold water. The mixture will be hot up on a sand pan heated evenly with an oven below. After that, press 2/3 of the pot gently into the sand. When the coffee starts to foam, lift it up immediately to cool it down and bury it in the sand a second time. In case the coffee has too much foam, skim them off, and continue boiling to thicken the coffee. This process can be repeated 2-3 times before pouring the drink into kahve finjani.
The way to prepare Turkish coffee is not too complicated yet requires patience and ingenuity as you need to lift the coffee up quickly before it starts to boil and then bury it in the sand a few times. This way gives a distinctively delicious coffee flavor.
*Notes:
- Turkish coffee should always be served with foam on top.
- Coffee must be ground utterly fine, whether pure Arabica or whatever you have.
- During the making process or while enjoying Turkish coffee, you absolutely must not stir the drink.
- Always start brewing with cold water.
Turkish coffee in traditional rites
Making and serving coffee in Turkey has become a ritual in marriage and a custom in communication.
If women in other countries show their finesse in cooking, Turkish women show it by making coffee. Young girls are trained on how to choose ingredients and how to make coffee masterfully. During a family visit before marriage, the boy’s parents expect to be served coffee made by the girl. They also evaluate her dignity through her processing skills.
Turkish coffee is also considered a way to pamper yourself or your guests. The hosts will serve coffee whenever they have special visitors. Unlike the usual way that people simply drink their coffee, Turks patiently wait for the coffee grounds to settle to the bottom of the cup, then slowly start enjoying it. That’s why, in meetings, people choose coffee as a drink to keep the conversations last longer.
Another distinctive feature of this coffee culture also lies in the form of coffee reading, also known as fassomancy. After the coffee is drunk up, the fortune teller will put a saucer directly over the top of the cup, then turn it upside down. The coffee dregs will fall onto the plate and present into different shapes – based on these images, they will predict the drinker’s future.
