Description
THE TURKISH COFFEE (Türk kahvesi) A symbol of lasting friendshipThe English word 'coffee' is derived from the Turkish word 'kahve'. In Turkey the public coffeehouse is also called 'Kahve' or in old way; 'Kahvehane' or very-very old way 'Kiraathane' and it continues to be the meeting place of the traditionalist throughout the Eastern Mediterranean. In small towns the coffeehouse spills over to the downtown square and the song of the waiter's, for example; "SEKERLI BIR !" (make one order -sweet-), or calling the cook inside like this: "Agabeylerime iki tane sade yap bakayim" (Prepare two orders of plain coffee for my brothers... ) Yes, this type of order calls rises above the traffic noise, as he passes his orders to the cook indoor... The real addict ('tiryaki' in Turkish) is the person who drinks coffee without any sugar so as to savor fully it's rich aroma. Turkish coffee is a real symbol of abiding friendship. In spite of the advent of the Martini, coffee still persists as the symbol of friendly exchange in Turkish culture. Whether calling on friends or acquaintances, for business or pleasure, one is always offered a cup of KAHVE (coffee). No serious conversation can begin until coffee starts the flow of words... That is why, according to the famous Turkish proverb, A SINGLE CUP OF COFFEE IS REMEMBERED FOR 40 YEARS. Turkish Coffee symbolizes many more things of course. For one thing, it is not a drink for minors! Since only adults are served coffee, drinking it is a sign of one's maturity. More signs can be read from the coffee grounds left in the cup, hence Turkish Coffee's key place in fortunetelling. Also this is important to note that; Turkish Coffee is not a breakfast drink or one that goes with meals. That is way the Turkish word for breakfast KAHVALTI, implies that coffee follows the breakfast. Turks usually like to drink coffee right after a good meal... especially when they enjoy the time being together with friends. One also has to remember that, contrary to custom in the U.S. for many beverages, by no way, there is no refills or take out service in anywhere. Ironically, coffee is not grown in Turkiye(Turkey): Yes, there is not a single coffee tree in the country. The climate is unsuited for growing coffee and Turks have always imported it from various countries since the year 1540, when it first appeared in the OTTOMAN LANDS. That is why Turkish Coffee is not a particular bean or blend. What made Turkish Coffee famous around the world is it's ritual of preparation and it's service. Good Turkish Coffee is made of medium to dark roasted coffee beans with no other flavors added. In recent, commercialized versions, sometimes garbanzo or cardamom is also added. Preparation of Turkish Coffee also requires pulverizing the beans to a fine powder in a proper coffee grinder. It is not possible to make good Turkish Coffee with coarsely ground beans! If you want to prepare Turkish coffee and already have properly roasted and ground beans, you will need a CEZVE(jezveh), which is a cylindrical pot of copper or brass with a long handle and which is sold in the US at some Greek and Middle Eastern food stores.