The Original Coffee

Kahve is Turkish style of preparing unfiltered coffee using a copper “cezve” (pronounced “jezz-va”). It is enjoyed by brewing together coffee grounds and water over a flame. Very simple. 

History of Kahve In 1517 the Ottoman Governor of Yemen discovered a new beverage made from coffee beans. He decided to introduce it to the Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. The new drink impressed the Sultan so much that he gave the Royal seal of approval. In the Ottoman palace, a new method of drinking coffee was soon discovered. The coffee beans were roasted over a fire; finely ground and then slowly cooked with water on the ashes of a charcoal fire.
The popularity of kahve spread and soon Turkish Style Coffee was being enjoyed by everyone not just the Royal Sultan. People were becoming Turkish Coffee makers and opening up Coffee shops. The first koffee house or “Kahve Kanes” was established in Istanbul in 1554. In 1656 the Ottoman Grand Bizier Köprülü issued laws for shutting the koffee houses. According to history people were gathering in coffee houses and were discussing politics. Some of them were talking about ways to downfall the Sultan as well. The laws did not last long and the laws were abolished.

To Venice and Beyond - The Coffee Merchants In 1600 Turkish Merchants made their way to Venice and began selling coffee beans abroad. Thanks to the efforts of merchants and travelers who passed through Istanbul, coffee soon spread to Europe and ultimately to the whole world.

What sets Kahve apart is not just its preparation but its rich tradition of fortune-telling, known as coffee cup reading or tasseography. This centuries-old ritual remains a cherished practice today, blending culture and mysticism.

To begin, the coffee must be sipped exclusively from one side of the cup. Once finished, the empty cup is placed onto the saucer, and a wish is silently made. The saucer and cup are then flipped together, and the cup is held at chest level, turned counterclockwise a few times. Afterward, the cup is inverted onto the saucer and left to cool.

For added charm, some may place a coin atop the overturned cup to ward off bad omens. Once the cup has cooled, someone other than the coffee drinker opens it to interpret the unique patterns and shapes left behind by the grounds. These shapes are said to reveal insights, predictions, and hidden messages, making each reading a fascinating and personal experience.

Kahve isn’t just a drink—it’s a window into tradition, storytelling, and perhaps even fate.

Coffee cup reading is a widespread and popular fortune-telling method that speaks of both the past and the future. 

For divination purposes, the coffee cup is considered in two horizontal halves. The shapes in the lower half talk of the past, whereas the shapes in the top half speak of the future. The shapes on the right side are usually interpreted positively, while shapes on the left are interpreted as signs of bad events, enemies, illnesses, troubles, and the like. According to another belief, the coffee cup can tell the past, but it can only be foretold forty days into the future. 

In addition, if, at the reading stage, the cup and the saucer are firmly stuck and the person is having trouble separating them, it is believed that this particular cup should not be read. This is a case of “prophet’s fortune telling,” where it is assumed that the person who wrung from the cup is lucky and does not need to have their fortune read.