Turkish Coffee Preparation: From Tradition to Cup

Turkish coffee, listed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage List, is a unique coffee preparation method in the world. Preparing perfect coffee for fortune reading requires special attention both for taste and grounds quality.

History of Turkish Coffee

Origins

Coffee spread from Ethiopia to Yemen, and then to Ottoman territories in the 15th century. The first coffeehouse opened in Istanbul in 1554 under the name Kiva Han. Coffee quickly became not just a beverage but a way of life.

Ottoman Palace Kitchen

In the Ottoman palace, coffee preparation was the responsibility of expert officials called kahveci başı (head coffee maker). The sultan's coffee was prepared with special pots and cups, through a meticulous ritual.

Coffee was so important in the palace that "not making coffee for her husband" was even accepted as grounds for divorce in marriage contracts.

Material Selection

Coffee Beans and Grinding

Bean quality:

Arabica beans are preferred
Medium-dark roast is ideal
Freshly roasted beans are best

Grinding level: Turkish coffee is the most finely ground coffee in the world. It should be powder-like consistency. This fineness:

Ensures grounds stay in the cup
Creates the characteristic foam
Produces clear shapes for fortune telling

Pot (Cezve) Selection

The cezve is the essential tool for Turkish coffee. Proper pot selection directly affects the taste of coffee.

Material options:

Material	Advantages	Disadvantages
Copper	Distributes heat evenly, traditional	Requires maintenance
Brass	Durable, easy cleaning	Doesn't distribute heat as well as copper
Stainless steel	Modern, durable	Less authentic taste
Ceramic	Elegant appearance	Fragile

Size selection:

1 person: 100-150 ml
2 people: 200-300 ml
3-4 people: 400-500 ml

Important: Pot size should match the number of cups being prepared. Making little coffee in a too-large pot reduces foam quality.

Cup and Saucer

Ideal cup for fortune reading:

White or very light-colored interior surface
Plain, pattern-free porcelain
Classic Turkish coffee cup form
Quality porcelain (thin walls, good heat insulation)

Saucer:

Compatible size with cup
Flat surface (no embossing)
Same color as cup

Water

Water quality directly affects coffee taste:

Use cold, clean drinking water
Avoid chlorinated tap water
Prefer filtered or spring water
Use cold water, not room temperature water

Traditional Preparation Method

Step 1: Measuring

For each cup:

1 full teaspoon (about 7-8 grams) Turkish coffee
1 cup (about 60-70 ml) cold water
Sugar (optional)

Sugar options:

Plain: No sugar
Little sugar: Half teaspoon
Medium: 1 teaspoon
Sweet: 2 teaspoons

Important for fortune reading: Plain or lightly sweetened coffee allows grounds to form clearer and more lasting shapes.

Step 2: Mixing

Put COLD water in the pot first
Add sugar (if preferred)
Sprinkle coffee on top
Stir at low speed, gently
Stir until all coffee is wet

Why water first? Adding water over coffee causes clumping and doesn't achieve a homogeneous mixture.

Step 3: Cooking

Heat setting: Cook on lowest heat. Patience is the most important secret of Turkish coffee.

Cooking process:

Put the pot on heat
DO NOT TOUCH the coffee after the FIRST stir
Wait for it to slowly heat up (3-5 minutes)
Foam will start forming from the edges
Be careful when foam starts to rise

Critical moment: When foam starts to rise, remove from heat immediately WITHOUT BOILING.

Step 4: Foam Technique

"Three-stage" method for perfect foam:

First rise: Remove from heat when foam rises, wait 10 seconds
Second rise: Put back on heat, remove when foam rises
Third rise (optional): Repeat if you want thicker foam

Warning: Coffee should NEVER boil. Boiling destroys foam and ruins taste.

Step 5: Serving

Distribute foam: First divide foam equally to cups with a spoon
Pour coffee: Tilt pot slightly and pour slowly
Final touch: Each cup should have equal amount of foam

Serving order: Traditionally, coffee is served first to the oldest or most respected person.

Special Considerations for Fortune Reading

Grounds Consistency

Ideal grounds for fortune:

Neither too watery nor too dry
Consistency that will stick to the cup
Homogeneously distributed

Too watery grounds: Flows quickly when cup is turned, no shapes form Too dry grounds: Sticks to cup but doesn't form shapes

Drinking Technique

When drinking coffee for fortune reading:

Set intention: Before starting to drink, think about what you want your fortune to be about
Enjoy: Don't rush, enjoy the conversation
Drink from same side: Take every sip from the same side of the cup
Leave the last sip: Don't drink the bottom 1-1.5 cm
Rest the cup: Wait 1-2 minutes after drinking

Turning Ritual

Cover the saucer over the cup
Bring cup close to your chest (heart level)
Turn clockwise three times
Make a wish or say "May my intention come true"
Quickly flip over
Press your palm to the bottom of the cup
Leave to cool for 10-15 minutes

Common Mistakes and Solutions

Mistake	Result	Solution
Boiling coffee	Foam disappears, bitter taste	Remove from heat when foam rises
Cooking too fast	Insufficient aroma	Cook patiently on lowest heat
Continuing to stir	Foam doesn't form	Stir only once at beginning
Using hot water	Coffee gets burnt taste	Always use cold water
Using stale coffee	Aroma loss	Prefer freshly ground coffee
Wrong measurement	Too watery or too thick	Use cup as measurement

Regional Variations

Coffee preparation and serving differs across Turkey's regions:

Southeast Anatolia: Menengiç coffee tradition is also common. Coffee is preferred very foamy.

Aegean: Lighter roasted, medium sweetened is preferred.

Black Sea: Strong, dark coffee is preferred.

Istanbul: Classic method, various serving rituals.

Coffee Storage

To maintain freshness of Turkish coffee:

Store in sealed container: Airtight containers are ideal
Keep in cool place: Away from direct sunlight
Buy small amounts: About 2-3 weeks' supply
Ground coffee: Maximum 2 weeks after opening
Beans: Unground beans last longer

Making Turkish coffee is an art. With patience, right materials, and some practice, you can prepare perfect coffees that appeal to both your palate and your fortune reading.

Turkish Coffee Preparation: The Art of Making Perfect Coffee for Fortune Reading