It is known that coffee has been found in Yemen and spread to the world for many years, but the origin is Ethiopia. Before, it was assumed as an ordinary plant, and was mixed with bread dough due to its saturation. Then it was discovered, brought to Yemen and started to be produced to be used as coffee as a drink. “Coffee” as a word is Arabic in origin. Another view is that “coffee” is named after Kaffa, a region where coffee grows in Ethiopia. Rumor was that in Yemen, shepherds observed that their goat herds did not get tired for a long time and they even did not sleep for a few days. As a result, the magic effects of caffeine gradually began to emerge. The shepherds explained this to their dervishes. Thereupon, Şâzelî boiled this interesting plant and drank its water, and when he saw the same effects on himself, the feature of the coffee was understood and started to be used.
The use of coffee in the Ottoman Empire is started when Yavuz Sultan Selim invaded Yemen, and started to spread among Turks after the Yemen Governor sent coffee to the palace as a gift. In the beginning, coffee was only drunk without sugar. As the taste of the dark coffee is quite bitter, sugar started to be added.
The story of the fortune telling is quite interesting. It was forbidden for the concubines living in the palace to gossip and fight with each other. They broke this ban with “coffee fortune telling”. They choose to express whatever they fear to say and could not say, by looking at the coffee cup. Those who do not like each other, expressed their feelings and even compare them with animals by looking at the coffee cup. Discourses of the concubines turned into coffee fortunes over time.
In Ottoman period, importance was given to the presentation of coffee as well as its taste. Various sweets and jams were served before coffee. Later, coffee was served with its grounds, in small cups decorated with gold and diamonds and with embroidered napkins, served with Turkish delight or musket grapes after being cooked in a Turkish style of a coffee pot (cezve). The most important feature that distinguishes Ottoman coffee from other coffees is its presentation. With the amount of sugar that is adjusted according to everyone’s taste, it enters the coffee pot, and from there to the hearts, it becomes a reason for conversations. It is to be remembered for forty years. Being an excuse for conversations and indispensible first step to start matchmaking, a rich Turkish coffee is a lovely mixture of water and a pinch of ground beans.
Coffee in life is our companion that warms us up. Whereever you are, you will definitely find it at some point during the day, you may drink it alone or with your friends. Turkish coffee, besides its very special flavor, holds an important mission with the custom of “Turkish coffee reading”, adds value to the traditions of our country and places the “hope” in the coffee cup.
