Turkish coffee
Türk kahvesi · Istanbul, Türkiye
Unfiltered coffee — and when you finish, the grounds in the cup can 'tell your fortune'.
Know before you go
- Don't stir it or drain it in one gulp (you'll get a mouthful of grounds)
- during Ramadan, don't eat or drink openly by day in conservative neighbourhoods
This article is Not yet verified. Please check official announcements for prices, opening hours and dates.
Culture
Culture & customs
Background
Turkish coffee is made by boiling very finely ground coffee, unfiltered, in a small long-handled copper pot called a cezve. Coffee, water and sugar are heated together, taken off the heat as soon as they foam, and poured into a small porcelain cup (kahve fincanı) of about 90 ml, with the grounds settling at the bottom. Turkish coffee culture and tradition is on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. After drinking, some people turn the cup upside down to 'read' their fortune in the grounds.
Local customs
- Say how much sugar you want when you order (none, a little, medium, a lot)
- it often comes with a glass of water and a piece of Turkish delight
Etiquette
Etiquette & taboos
Rules that apply here
Türkiye: don't buy or take away antiquities
- Before buying old items, check whether they may be exported
- Buying antiquities or taking them out of the country
Illegal; can bring a fine and 5 to 12 years in prison.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Turkey travel advice
Türkiye: you must carry photo ID
- Carry your passport and cooperate with police checks
- Going out without any photo ID
Not carrying photo ID is illegal; checks are common in Istanbul and elsewhere.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Turkey travel advice
Don’t DON'T
- Don't stir it or drain it in one gulp (you'll get a mouthful of grounds)
- during Ramadan, don't eat or drink openly by day in conservative neighbourhoods
Locals appreciate DO
Turks appreciate customers who drink slowly and chat as they go.
Plan your visit
Practical info
Travel tips
- There are many century-old coffee houses around the Grand Bazaar
- a copper cezve makes a good souvenir. Prices and opening hours are set by each café
- popular old places often have queues, so go outside peak mealtimes.
Sources & verification notes
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