Talkkok

I like coffee, be it espresso,cappuccino,white coffee, kopi O or even kopi cham,which is my favourite drink especially during my thinking sessions (though lately i have found a new love-the 3 layered tea). I believe many of you are also fond of coffee.

But do you know that Turkish can read their future from their coffee drinking habit?? Before you can understand this,you got to know what is so special about Turkish coffee:

Derived from the Arabica bean, Turkish coffee is a very fine, powder-like grind. This Mediterranean coffee has four levels of sweetness ranging from very sweet to black. Since sugar is not added to the coffee after it is served, spoons are not needed. As the coffee begins to heat, it begins to foam. A rule of the Turkish coffee ceremony dictates that if the foam is absent from the face of the coffee, the host loses face.

Turkish coffee is served hot from a special coffee pot called a cezve. Rich in tradition and flavor, Turkish coffee remains a favorite today.

Preparation of Turkish coffee

As with other ways of preparing coffee, the best Turkish coffee is made from freshly roasted beans ground just before brewing. A dark roast is preferable but even a medium roast coffee will yield a strong aroma and flavour. Beans for Turkish coffee are ground even finer than the grind used in pump-driven espresso makers; therefore, Turkish coffee should be powdery.

For best results, the water must be cold. The amount of water necessary can be measured using the cups. The coffee and the sugar are usually added to water, rather than being put into the pot first. For each cup, between one and two heaped teaspoons of coffee are used. Following this, the spoon is removed and the pot is put on the fire. No stirring is done beyond this point, as it would dissolve the foam. Getting the thickest possible layer of foam is considered the peak of the coffee maker’s art. The cup with the most foam is considered the best of the lot.

A well-prepared Turkish coffee has a thick foam at the top (köpük in Turkish), is homogeneous, and does not contain noticeable particles in the foam or the liquid. This can be achieved only if cold water and a low heat are used.

Drinking

Turkish coffee is served with chocolate sticks. Turkish coffee is taken at extremely hot temperatures and is usually served with a glass of cold water to freshen the mouth to better taste the coffee. All of the coffee in the pot is poured into cups, but not all of it is drunk. The thick layer of sludgy grounds at the bottom of the cup is left behind. Why? You might ask…

Fortune-telling

The grounds left after drinking Turkish coffee can also be used for fortune-telling. The cup is commonly turned over into the saucer to cool, and then the patterns of the coffee grounds can be used for a kind of fortune telling called tasseography.

I had it once. Yes, i meant my future was foretold by my Turkish colleague , who invited me for a lunch at her residence when I was in Munich in 2007. At the beginning, I didnt know about this. Once i finished my cup of coffee (though bloody bitter), she turned the cup upside down and let the grounds settled on the saucer. After a while, she removed the cup and we saw the grounds formed an unique & random pattern. She began reading my characters & future from the “sediments”. Nevertheless, I am not prepared to disclose what she said about me over here. I also told her no more coffee from her in future. KNS betul! On the very night, I couldn’t sleep soundly!!

Here is the explanation:

Fortune telling out of coffee cups after drinking Turkish coffee is a common, popular, and ancient art in Turkey. Not everybody can read the coffee cups, but it is quite popular especially among women. There is a Turkish proverb that says “the memories of a cup of coffee are good for forty years.”

Fortune tellers predict the future according to the designs and shapes the coffee sediment creates in the cup. A wide variety of subjects may be seen, such as finance, travel, politics, love, and matrimony.

Here are some of the more popular interpretations you might want to know:

• Large white spaces mean peace of mind
• A vertical white line down the side of the cup is a snake symbol meaning bad luck
• A white, uninterrupted circle around the top of the cup means travel. But if it is blocked by a patch of black, it means you’ll have to turn back before the journey is completed or cancel it at the last minute
• Some white lines are also interpreted as travel. A long line means a long trip; a short line means a short trip
  A white pigeon-shape is a good sign meaning happiness or good news you will soon receive. Sometimes the fortune tellers give an estimated time of receiving that news as well depending on the black spots they see around the pigeon-like shape
• A horse-shape is a sign that your wishes will come true
• A big gate and white space after means that you will solve your problems
• Lumps on the side mean money
• A big lump at the bottom of the cup means problems

There is another Turkish saying about fortune telling: “don’t believe in fortune telling, but don’t disregard it, either!”

So, this is the uniqueness of Turkish coffee. Besides exuding an aromatic scent & thick formed drink, it foretells your fortune. Should you have a chance in having Turkish coffee one day, remember to ask the host to read your future or fortune! It might be good for you.

If you want to try it immediately, you can try with this coffee powder too: