Why Turkey Fights to Save Its Traditional Coffee

In Istanbul’s trendiest cafés, lattes and cappuccinos flow freely—but ask for a classic cup of Turkish coffee, and some baristas shrug. A quiet cultural battle is underway as locals push back against the erosion of their centuries-old coffee tradition by modern espresso drinks.

Turkey is credited with popularizing coffee in Europe, yet today, many younger urban Turks have never even tried their own national brew. Traditional Turkish coffee is now hard to find outside rural villages and heritage cafés.

What Is Turkish Coffee—and Why Is It Different?

Turkish coffee isn’t just a style—it’s a method. The coffee is ground to a fine powder, finer than espresso, and brewed slowly in a special long-handled brass or copper cezve (ibrik) by heating water and coffee together until it simmers, not boils. This process is repeated several times to create a thick, unfiltered drink full of grounds and intense aroma. No paper filter, no espresso machine—just patience and technique.

The Historical Role of Turkey in Global Coffee Culture

Though coffee originally came from Yemen, it was the Ottoman Empire that spread it across Europe. Ottoman soldiers left sacks of coffee behind during battles in Europe. At first mistaken for animal feed, the beans were soon recognized as the source of the soldiers’ energy—and their rich, aromatic drink sparked Europe’s coffee craze. Authors like Taha Toros have documented how Turkey essentially introduced continental Europe to coffee.

Why Are Traditionalists Fighting Back?

Modern cafés in cities like Istanbul increasingly favor Italian-style espresso and American-style pour-overs. Many have abandoned the labor-intensive Turkish method altogether. Critics, including older generations and groups like the “Association for the Support of Modern Life” (with over 10,000 members), argue that Turkish coffee is being erased. The association’s president, Kahar, insists, “Cappuccino shouldn’t wipe out Turkish coffee. In Italy, you can’t find a restaurant without espresso—why should Turkey abandon its national drink?”

Consumer complaints have also made headlines. One customer was refused a Turkish coffee at a flashy sports celebrity café in Istanbul, sparking outrage. Meanwhile, traditional coffeehouses are vanishing from city centres, often surviving only in rural areas where gender-segregated, old-fashioned cafés still cater to older men.

How Is Turkish Coffee Actually Made?

Making authentic Turkish coffee requires precision:

• Grind: Use a Turkish grinder or equivalent to achieve a powder-like consistency, much finer than espresso grind.
• Ratio: Traditionally, use one heaping teaspoon of finely ground coffee per demitasse cup (about 30ml), plus sugar to taste (or none), and fill with cold water to just below the rim.
• Tool: Brew in a small cezve (metal pot) over low heat.
• Method: Add coffee and water (no stirring yet). Heat gently until the coffee rises just before boiling—this may happen multiple times. Let it foam, but do not let it boil over. Remove from heat briefly between rises.
• Serve: Pour slowly into cups, ensuring the settled grounds remain in the cezve. Serve unfiltered, grounds included at the bottom of the cup.

The leftover coffee grounds in the cup are sometimes used for a traditional fortune-telling ritual called tasseography.

What’s at Stake for Coffee Culture in Turkey?

Beyond taste, Turkish coffee represents a ritual, a social custom, and a piece of living history. For many, losing it means losing a connection to their heritage. Advocates aren’t just asking for a menu option—they’re defending a cultural identity. Some locals urge restaurants to follow the example set in Italy, where traditional espresso is non-negotiable.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Turkish coffee and how is it different from espresso?

Turkish coffee is made by boiling finely powdered coffee in water, often with sugar, in a cezve without filtering. It’s unfiltered, served with the grounds in the cup, and has a thick mouthfeel. Espresso is a high-pressure extraction producing a small, concentrated shot with crema. Turkish coffee uses no machine and is much slower brewed.

Do you need a special coffee grinder for Turkish coffee?

Yes. You need a grinder capable of producing an extremely fine powder, finer than espresso grind. Standard grinders usually can’t achieve the right consistency, though some burr grinders with ultra-fine settings or dedicated Turkish grinders can work.

Why is Turkish coffee served with grounds in the cup?

The grounds are part of the experience—they settle at the bottom and are not meant to be drunk. They are also traditionally used for tasseography, or coffee cup reading, a popular fortune-telling method in Turkey and the Middle East.

Where can you still find traditional Turkish coffee in Turkey?

Traditional Turkish coffee is most commonly found in rural towns, older neighbourhoods, and heritage-style cafés. In major cities like Istanbul, it’s becoming harder to find outside specialized or tourist-oriented venues.

Is Turkish coffee stronger than espresso?

Not necessarily in caffeine per serving, but it tastes stronger due to its fine grind, unfiltered nature, and thick texture. It’s typically served in small cups similar to espresso, but without the crema or pressure-brewed concentration.

Can you make Turkish coffee without a cezve?

You can try using a small heavy saucepan, but a cezve is ideal because of its heat distribution and shape, which help control the foaming and brewing process. The traditional pot is designed specifically for slow, gentle heating.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Turkish Coffee

For Turkish coffee, choose lightly roasted beans with distinct sweetness and a full body. FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Humbera offers vibrant blueberry and floral notes, while Yirgacheffe delivers citrus and jasmine brightness—both shine when prepared traditionally. For deeper profiles, their PWN Golden Mandheling brings chocolatey richness. All work well ground to a fine powder. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.