Turkish Coffee has a long and rich history that's vastly different from what we think of when we think of coffee beans.
Let's take a look at the history of this rich and powerful caffeine-filled drink.
Turkish Coffee originated within the Ottoman Empire in the early 15th century. As far as we know, it is the oldest method of coffee brewing known to man.
The Origin Story
There's some controversy when it comes to who was responsible for introducing coffee beans to the Ottoman Empire. Some claim it was the work of the Ottomon Governor of Yemen, Özdemir Paşa who discovered coffee beans and brought them to the feet of the Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent (seen below)
The other historical version claims that the beans were brought to Turkey from Damascus from a group of Syrian travellers coming into Istanbul. These men were said to have opened up coffee shops in the city and the rest is history.
Regardless of what the correct interpretation is, Turkish Coffee is old. Really old.
The Growth of Coffee
The trend of Turkish brewing quickly took off within the Ottoman empire, becoming a profession and a deeply-embedded part of the culture.
Soon, there coffee making was a full-time job for some. Specialty coffee makers earned the title of Kahveci Usta. These were people who would be employed to prepare specialty coffee for the highest rungs of Ottoman society.
Coffee was a favourite of the nobility and was something that indicated status and wealth.
Eventually, Turkish Coffee opened up to the people, coffee houses became more common and open to everyone within society.
People would go there to socialize, play games, or hold business meetings.
In fact, they became so popular that in 1656, the Ottoman Grand Bizier Köprülü decided to make coffee drinking illegal (perhaps it had something to do with the political talk within the coffee shops among the people).
The people, of course, revolted against such laws. They loved their coffee by now! The bans were eventually replaced by taxation.
Migration
Turkish Coffee didn't stay in the Ottoman Empire for very long. By the 1600s, trading coffee became a standard practice.
There are traces of Turkish Coffee in areas like Venice, England, and France as early as the 1650s. It's that good!
Turkish Coffee is specifically, Turkish for two reasons. The first is, of course, it's country of origin. The second is its method of preparation. You can read more about that in our blog on What Makes Turkish Coffee Unique.
If you're interested in Turkish Coffee, take a look at the collections on our site. We're looking to bring this piece of history to your homes.
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