Cultural Artifact #3 - Türk Kahvesi

In Turkish culture, it is important to remember that coffee is also a central component to social interactions. Known as Türk kahvesi (Turkish coffee) in Turkish, the drink appears in many social scenes in popular media as well as in daily life. For example, in the renowned Turkish TV series Muhteşem Yüzyıl (Magnificent Century) Muhteşem Süleyman (Süleyman the Magnificent) and Hürrem Sultan are portrayed drinking Turkish coffee, along with lokum (Turkish delight), for the first time (Magnificent Century 2022). As cited by UNESCO, Turkish coffee is an integral part of Turkish culture and “is a symbol of hospitality, friendship, refinement and entertainment that permeates all walks of life” (UNESCO 2011). However, it is not exceptionally easy to make, as it requires particular boiling techniques in a special cup called a cezve (pronounced ‘jezve’). As such, various recipes and tutorials exist online to instruct interested viewers as to how to brew a good batch of Turkish coffee. One such video, posted by Pratik Yemek Tarifleri (Practice Food Recipes) is particularly useful. Titled “Türk Kahvesi Nasıl Yapılır?” (How Should We Make Turkish Coffee?), it provides a quick but in-depth tutorial on how to brew it. Saliently, in Turkish, most of the recipes available are offered in the Optative Mood, which is effectively “used to express wishes” (Yalçın 2017, 13). In effect it is a suggestion. In the case of literally translating the title, it would instead read “How Do We Wish to Make Turkish Coffee?” In the case of Pratik Yemek Tarifleri, it does not follow this format and instead covers the topic in the future tense. To provide an example of the difference, at the onset of the video, it states, “fincana soğuk su koyacağız” (Pratik Yemek Tarifleri 2020), which translates to “We will add cold water to the cup.” In the case of most recipes in Turkish, it would normally say “fincana soğuk su koyulum,” which means “We wish/should add cold water to the cup.” She then mentions how one should add two tablespoons of sugar and too tablespoons of coffee, as well as once the cup is on the heat to periodically stir and leave it (kırıştırmak ve bırakmak) (Pratik Yemek Tarifleri 2020). Then, two tablespoons of coffee are added, then the coffee is brought to a boil and then poured into special Turkish coffee cups (Pratik Yemek Tarifleri 2020).

After drinking the Turkish coffee, it is important to not finish the cup. For pratical reasons, one will be drinking a substantial amount of coffee grinds, and it would omit the opportunity for fortune telling. On the official website of Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi, the most popular brand for Turkish coffee, it notes that “coffee fortune telling was born out of Turkish Coffee and is an inseparable part of the pleasure and conversation associated with coffee,” with the intention of creating strong memories of both social interactions and the association of coffee with them (“Fortune Telling” 2024; “Fortune Telling” 2024). To perform this, one should take the cup of finished Turkish coffee and flip it over the accompany serving plate, and the resulting symbols of the coffee grounds on the plate signify a particular fortune (“Fortune Telling” 2024). In the instance that a leaf appears on the plate, it “means that you will receive news from an old friend or will make a new one. It is generally an indication of a good conversation” (“Fortune Telling” 2024). However, in the event that it produces a butterfly, it is “an indication of an undecided friendship. It means that you must be more determined and resolute. Be careful” (“Fortune Telling” 2024). This cultural aspect allows for additional socializing beyond the conversations held over the cup of coffee, and it is something I look forward to every time I decide to enjoy a cup of Turkish coffee.

Sources:

Kurukavehci Mehmet Efendi. "Fortune Telling." Kurukavehci Mehmet Efendi. Last modified 2024. https://www.mehmetefendi.com/eng/turkish-coffee/fortune-telling.

"Suleiman Tried Turkish Coffee | Magnificent Century." Video. YouTube. Posted by Magnificent Century, January 28, 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7KC-N8TGDs.

"Türk Kahvesi Nasıl Yapılır? Bol Köpüklü Türk Kahvesi how to make turkish coffee? bon appetit." Video. YouTube. Posted by Pratik Yemek Tarifleri, February 19, 2020. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrlncMoDfUE.

UNESCO. "Turkish coffee culture and tradition." UNESCO. UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. Last modified 2011. https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/turkish-coffee-culture-and-tradition-0....

Yalçın, Mehmet. İstanbul: Yabancılar için Türkçe Ders Kitabı A2. İstanbul, Türkiye: Kültür Sanat Basımevi, 2017. Digital file.