TRADITIONAL TOOLS

There are several stages involved in preparing traditional Turkish Coffee: roasting, cooling, grinding, cooking and serving. The traditional tools used in these processes have for the most part fallen victim to the passage of time and modernisation; today, they can only be found in museums, private collections and the windows of antique shops. In the order of their use, they can be described as follows:

In the past, coffee was roasted at home on roasting pans.

A roasting pan used in the palace and in grand mansions.

Two types of roasters were used, a “tava” (pan) or a “tambur” (cauldron). The pans were made either from beaten iron or, more rarely, from fired clay. The pans had long handles, some of which could be folded. Some of the large pans were mounted on wheels to make it easier to pass them over the fire. Others had roasting spoons attached to the pans by a chain. Roasting was performed over a stove or grill. Cauldron roasters were made from sheet iron and consisted of a hand turned cylinder fitted onto a small, square grill.

The roasted coffee was then transferred into a cooling bin and left to cool.

The roasted beans were transferred into hand carved wooden cooling bins that featured an opening for pouring out the coffee. The matchless cooling bins were decorated with carved motifs and are one of the finest examples of Turkish woodwork.

The coffee was ground in “dibek” (large mortar) and “havan” (mortar).

The beans were then ground either with a “havan” (mortar) or in a “dibek” (large mill). “Dibek” were handmade from wood, marble or stone; “havan” were made from cast bronze.

A hand mill was also used to grind the coffee.

The beans were ground using pestles or mallets. Two types of mills were used: hand mills and larger “yer” mills. The hand mills were usually made of brass, although some had wooden handles. The “yer” mills were made of brass or wood, both of which had iron mechanisms.

Wooden mills were used in addition to hand mills to grind the coffee.

After the coffee was ground, it was stored in a wooden coffee box.

Some of the “cezve” that were used to brew coffee had folding handles.

Turkish Coffee is made from medium roasted, finely ground beans. It is boiled very briefly either with or without sugar. It is best if it has a good froth. It was originally cooked in tinned brass or copper vessels. Later, these were replaced by “cezve” made of copper or brass, which remain in use today.

In the past, coffee cup holders were made of “tombak”, or gilt copper.

Turkish Coffee has always served as a symbol of love, respect and hospitality. Turkish Coffee was served in special coffee sets by “kahveci güzeli” or coffee beauties in an atmosphere of great solemnity. A coffee set consisted of a coffee cloth, tray, cup holders, cups and saucers, as well as a serving “güğüm” that helped to keep the coffee warm. The finest trays, cup holders and saucers were made from “tombak”, or gilt copper. Later, these were made from silver and copper. Decorated with the “tuğra” or imperial seals, carvings or bas-relief work, they represent the pinnacle of Turkish metal workmanship. Handleless cups with holders were made of fine porcelain or china. The cups with holders were replaced over time by the handled cups made of porcelain and occasionally china that we use today.

The way the coffee is presented is as important as the way it is brewed. Coffee cups have always been amongst the most elegant kitchen accoutrements.

Turkish Coffee is the precursor of all the varieties of coffee served in Europe and around the world. Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi has been producing world-renowned delicious Turkish Coffee since 1871 and is synonymous with the rich history of the beverage.