TURKISH COFFEE

Coffee Cup Fortune telling! >>> NOT JUST COFFEE....Coffee has played an important role in Turkish culture from the Ottoman period through the present. The serving and consumption of coffee has had a profound effect on political and social interaction, gender customs, and hospitality customs throughout the centuries. Although many of the rituals perished in time coffee has remained an integral part of Turkish culture.   . HISTORY....Coffee is brought to Istanbul in 1555 by two Syrian traders. It was known as " the milk of chess players and thinkers." By the mid-17th century, Turkish coffee became a part of elaborate ceremonies involving the Ottoman court. Coffee makers known as "kahveci usta", with the help of over forty assistants, ceremoniously prepared and served coffee for the sultan. Betrothal customs and gender roles also became defined through coffee rituals. In the Ottoman period, women received intensive training in the harem on the proper techniques of preparing Turkish coffee. Perspective husbands would judge a woman's merits based on the taste of the coffee she made.           PREPERATION....Turkish coffee is made of finely pulverized roasted coffee beans in special coffee pots called "cezve". Roasting degree and duration differ according to taste. Coffee is sold either green, or roasted beans or in pulverized form. In old houses a brass-made hand manupulated coffee mill would be used to pulverize coffee beans. An electrical coffee mill is used instead of brass-coffee mill at present time in many households. Turkish coffee is prepared in 4 ways: "Az Sekerli" means coffee has little sugar (about 1/2 teaspoon) "Orta Sekerli" means coffee has standart amount of sugar (1 teaspoon) "Çok Sekerli" means coffee has more sugar than enough which is 1 1/2 teaspoons. "Sade Kahve" means black coffee, without sugar.      Turkish coffee is served in special Turkish coffee cups made of porcelain. These cups are smaller in size than ordinary coffee cups. An average Turkish coffee cup is equal to 1/4 cup in volume. Coffee is served with bon-bon, candy bar or with " Lokum " (Turkish Delight) or with chocolate bars. It is served usually during midday or following a lunch or dinner. There is an old saying about coffee:" Bir kahve fincanin kirk yil hatiri vardir ". This saying means that if one has offered a cup of coffee to you you are obliged for forty years to the one who offered the coffee. It means that the person who offers the coffee is to be respected, honoured, and remembered for a long time for the sake of his coffee offering. Coffee Cup Fortune telling! >>>