Culinary Storytelling｜Vibrant & Bold Turkish Coffee
A drink for waking up, fortune reading, and even expressing love?**
When people talk about Turkish coffee, most imagine its bold, intense flavor and the mysterious coffee-ground fortune reading that follows after finishing a cup.
Legend says coffee originated within Islamic culture, and Turkish coffee is considered one of the oldest coffee brewing methods in the world—often called the ancestor of European coffee.
In 2013, UNESCO even recognized Turkish coffee as an Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Over centuries, as coffee spread to different regions, countless brewing styles evolved,
giving birth to a wide variety of unique coffee traditions.
How Turkish Coffee Is Traditionally Made
Traditional Turkish coffee is brewed in a special brass pot called a cezve or ibrik.
Unlike most brewing methods, Turkish coffee mixes ultra-fine coffee grounds with
water and sugar directly in the pot.
The mixture is heated until foam rises, then removed from the heat.
This process is repeated two to three times to create a rich, concentrated cup.
The brewed coffee is poured directly into the cup without filtering, allowing
the grounds to settle at the bottom.
After drinking, the remaining grounds form natural patterns that can be
interpreted—revealing messages about one’s life, energy, or future.
A Ritual Requiring Patience and Presence
Because the heating process needs careful attention, many say brewing Turkish coffee naturally calms the mind. Beyond being a daily drink, Turkish coffee plays an important role in social and cultural traditions — even in courtship and matchmaking.
In old customs, when a man visits a woman’s family to ask for her hand, she brews
the coffee as a symbolic gesture:
- Sweeter coffee → expressing affection and approval
- Salted coffee → a polite (but unmistakable!) rejection
That first sip tells the suitor everything he needs to know.
From Ancient Pots to Modern Waves
From its earliest days simmering in small metal pots to the rise of specialty coffee and diverse brewing schools, coffee continues to evolve—now entering its “fourth wave.”
If you’re already captivated by this deep, complex beverage, enjoying it every morning like a daily ritual, then one day, should you visit Turkey, you absolutely should try this bold, aromatic drink in its birthplace. After all, Turkish coffee is more than a drink — it is heritage, ritual, and a story brewed through centuries.
