coffeehouse culture

Being part of the coffeehouse culture of the west coast, and non-drinkers, we have always enjoyed the outstanding coffee experiences of 'the broken paddle' in Mechisin and other fine independent cafe's and I even enjoy timmies and Starbucks. So we delighted in the older coffeehouse culture of Europe which was different but totally amazing mixed with chocolate and old european ambiance. Being there in the late fall and early winter, the cafe's gave us a great place to hang out to read and write while escaping the cool and the rain. Then to come to Istanbul and discover the many delightful coffeehouses in this even older coffeehouse culture, developed in the ottoman empire, was the most primal and delightful of all our coffee drinking experiences. The word for "coffeeshop" in modern standard Arabic is maqha, literally meaning "place of coffee-ing." As I understand there is no special variety of coffee bean that is used. Turkish coffee is rather an expression of the preparation used, not the raw material. Everyone has their unique secret method of brewing the coffee and as much as I could squeeze out of one barista was that it is prepared by boiling finely powdered roast coffee beans in a pot (cezve), possibly with sugar, and then serving it in a small cup, where the dregs settle into a fine coffee mud at the bottom. Apparently you can also have your fortune told by reading the dregs. Aja looked at mine but all she could see was 'the grim', but of course she had just finished reading the Harry Potter series...or maybe she just thought it was grim. Anyway to the rest of you good fortune and happy coffee-ing.