Turkish coffee is more than a drink. It is brewed slowly in a small copper pot, drunk unfiltered, and what remains in the cup is traditionally interpreted in Turkey. A workshop shows you the whole process from start to finish.
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Brew Turkish coffee yourself, then read the grounds: a calm cultural experience, also good for rainy days. What the offer includes.
How coffee came to Ottoman Istanbul
Coffee entered Ottoman culture in the 16th century and quickly became a topic in the city. The chronicler Ibrahim Peçevi names two merchants from Aleppo and Damascus as the founders of Istanbul's first coffeehouses, which opened in the mid-1550s in the Tahtakale district near the Golden Horn. Sources give different years: Peçevi names 1554/55, other accounts 1553.
Coffeehouses became social places: people met to talk, hear the news, play games, read and debate. The authorities were not always comfortable with that; in the 17th century coffeehouses were temporarily closed under Murad IV. By the way, "Turkish coffee" does not mean a type of bean but above all the way it is prepared.
What the offer includes
According to the offer description, you prepare Turkish coffee yourself: grinding, brewing, getting the foam right. Then it is about coffee culture and reading the grounds. The provider states about two hours, the group is small; please check language and group size in the current listing. The workshop is meant for beginners.
If you would like to prepare Turkish coffee yourself, you can find current dates here.
Why Turkish coffee is brewed this way
The coffee is ground extremely fine and heated slowly with cold water in a small pot, the cezve. It is not boiled until it overflows, but only until the characteristic foam forms. It is served in small cups, unfiltered, traditionally with a glass of water. That is exactly why the grounds settle at the bottom.
Anyone who prepares it themselves quickly understands why patience is part of it: too much heat destroys the foam, too little stirring makes the coffee clump.
Reading the grounds: tradition, not prediction
After drinking, the grounds remain in the cup. The cup is turned onto the saucer, you wait a moment, and then people interpret what the patterns in the grounds show. That is exactly why coffee and coffee-cup reading belong together: the grounds are created automatically by the way the coffee is made.
Interpreting the patterns belongs to Turkish coffee culture and is mostly seen as an entertaining ritual. So do not expect a real prediction, but a playful, sociable part of the experience.
Coffee, hospitality and engagements
Coffee is still a sign of hospitality and part of social rituals. A well-known custom concerns engagements: when the groom's family visits, the future bride serves the coffee. That it is sometimes deliberately salted is a common anecdote; families handle this differently.
Since 2013 Turkish coffee culture and tradition has been on UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage. UNESCO explicitly mentions coffee as an important part of social occasions such as engagement ceremonies and holidays. What is honoured is not the drink alone, but the gathering, the storytelling and the rituals around the cup.
What guests highlight
Guest reviews often mention the relaxed atmosphere, learning the preparation and the fun of reading the grounds. A tasting and a small gift set are also mentioned as nice extras.
Who is it for?
For coffee fans, for couples and friends looking for something calm, and as an idea for rainy days because it takes place indoors. Less suitable if you expect lots of movement or sightseeing.
In short
- About 2 hours according to the provider, indoors
- Easy to combine with a walk through the old town before or afterwards
- For a lovely place for coffee with a view afterwards: Pierre Loti Café
More creative experiences in Istanbul
Looking for more creative experiences? Take a look at the mosaic lamp workshop or the perfume workshop.
All experiences, tickets and tours are collected on our activities page.
– Amra
