Turkish coffee predicts destiny

Fotos: Unsplash

The word coffee is said to come from the Turkish word kahve, also from the Arabic word qahwa, which is a drink with stimulating and medicinal effects.

The first kahvehane coffee house was opened in 1554 in the Tahtakale district. They quickly spread to the rest of the city of Istanbul as it was there that people would gather to enjoy deep conversation, a game of chess or engage in intellectual debates, always accompanied by a traditional Turkish coffee brewed over a slow fire.

As Turkish coffee gained prominence in the Ottoman Empire, it began to become known throughout Europe, as European merchants and diplomats became fascinated by this exotic drink.

In 1637, it was brought to Britain by a Turk who came to Oxford, and the drink became popular with students and teachers, eventually forming the Oxford Coffee Club. In 1652, a Greek man who learned to brew Turkish coffee properly opened the coffee house in London and so it became one of the luxury products consumed at elite parties.

It was in 1645 that the first European coffee house inspired by the kahvehane was established in Venice.  In 1669, Sultan Mehmed IV sent a few sacks of coffee to Paris, and it became a favourite of the Parisian aristocracy. In 1671, the first coffee house was opened in Marseilles, but it was not until 1686 that the first coffee house was opened in Paris. 

European coffee houses adapted Turkish coffee to local tastes and these adaptations laid the foundations for different styles of coffee such as espresso coffee.

A travel into the mystery of destiny

Beyond the sensory pleasure, Turkish coffee hides an enigma in its grounds. Once the tasting is over, the drinker is invited to turn his cup over on the plate and wait for the residue to settle. This act begins the fascinating practice of kahve falı, the reading of coffee, a divinatory art that has intrigued generations since Ottoman times.

Turkish coffee is not just a drink; it’s a cultural experience steeped in history, refinement and symbolism. From its meticulous preparation to its role in society and its connection to the mystical, each cup is a tribute to a tradition that has transcended time and borders.

Have you ever experienced it, and what secrets might your cup reveal?

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