HISTORICAL JOURNEY

Most people will be surprised to learn that the practice of drinking coffee as a heated beverage was developed in the Ottoman Empire. The process of making it goes all the way back to the 16th century, predating every other currently-used method of brewing. The Ottoman's roasted beans over a fire, ground them and then boiled them water. Coffee was introduced in Constantinople in 1543, during the reign of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent.

Coffee was an imperative part of palace cuisine in the Ottoman Empire. The position of Chief Coffee Maker, who was chosen for his loyalty and his ability to keep secrets and, obviously, his ability to make coffee, was an important part of the roster of court functions.

Coffee drinking often trickled its way down to the homes of the public. The people of Constantinople were enamored with the beverage and regularly purchased green coffee beans and roasted them on pans at home. The beans, once roasted, were ground in mortars and brewed in coffeepots. Coffeehouses were opened throughout the city and, before long, Turkish Coffee became an integral part of social culture in Constantinople. [Hr]

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE

In Turkish, the word for breakfast, kahvalti, means "before coffee". Such language indicates the cultural significance of coffee in Turkey. Turkish coffee, in comparison to those 'to go cups' offered by most cafés around the world, is served in such a manner that you are actually forced to sit down in order to drink it. If you attempt to shoot it like a shot of espresso, your mouth will be in slight discomfort as a) it can be very hot and b) the muck and the grinds at the bottom are not by no means meant to be consumed. The simple act of sitting encourages relaxation and conversation and, in that sense, Turkish coffee has become the focal point of street-side socializing in Turkey.

Fortune tellers, noting the popularity of the beverage, have found that the remnants of your coffee grounds offer exciting prospects into your future. Once you have finished the liquid portion of your coffee, you will encounter a thick, almost mud-like substance at the bottom of your cup. You will ask yourself if you drink this, eat it with a spoon, or apply it on your face for use as a skin product. Your answers should be no, never and why not. However, if you want the full, true cultural experience, place the plate that your coffee came with on top of the cup, flip it over, and let it sit for about 5 minutes. You then turn the cup back over and go find somebody to read your future in the designs created by the sloppy grounds. If you come on our tour we will do this for you at no extra charge! Hr]

HOW TO ORDER IT AND DRINK IT

Turkish coffee, or Turk Kahvesi, usually comes with sugar. However, you can personalize it the way you like by using the following linguistic terminology:

Sade (sah-DEH) – plain, no sugar (this usually means that your coffee will be quite bitter)

Az Ÿekekerli (AHZ sheh-kehr-lee) – a little sugar (less than a teaspoon per cup)

Orta Ÿekekerli (ohr-TAH sheh-kehr-lee) – medium sugar (sweetish; about a teaspoon of sugar for each cup)

ÇOK Ÿekekerli (CHOK sheh-kehr-lee) – lots of sugar (very sweet; two teaspoons of sugar or more)

Experienced Turkish coffee drinkers wait about 60 seconds to take a sip after they receive their cup. This allows the grounds to set a bit first. It is usually taken at extremely hot temperatures and often comes with a glass of cold water to freshen the mouth and wash the coffee down. Many establishments that serve Turkish coffee in Istanbul also include a Turkish delight on the side.hr]

HOW IT'S MADE

There is no special bean involved in the making of Turkish coffee – its distinct name comes from the method of preparation. Turkish coffee is made using cardamon, clove and anise. You will need a good grinder (Turkish mill), fresh roasted coffee, a stirring spoon made of metal and the brewer – a device made of metal that's called an ibrik.

Bring to a very find grind (finer than espresso) with the Turkish mill
Use demitasse cups (the small cups that are used to serve the coffee) to measure the amount of cold water that you want
Add one teaspoon of coffee per demitasse of water
Add sugar to taste – typical ratio is one teaspoon of suger per two teaspoons of coffee
Stir the sugar, cold water and coffee before brewing (stir until the sugar has dissolved)
Brew of medium-low heat – Be careful! Too high a heat will damage the coffee
As soon as it starts to boil remove the ibrik from the heat source – do this quickly before the froth flows over the top
Return the ibrik to the heat source and let the froth build up again – remove as it returns to a second boil
Bring to a third and final boil
Serve – alternate cups and pour a bit at at a time (about 15ml / cup until they are all full)
Drink up! And socialize!
NOTE: NEVER TAKE YOUR EYES OF THE COFFEE WHILE IT'S BREWING !! hr]

HEALTHY?

Turkish coffee is an anti-carcinogen and helps in the digestive process. However, because it is unfiltered, studies have linked consumption of Turkish coffee to high cholesterol.