DYING FOR A GREAT TURKISH COFFEE
Sipping a great cup of Turkish coffee while in Istanbul's a must; finding a place that offers the ultimate cup of syrupy, foamy goodness may not always be easy.
The java nut that I am... Always up for a Latté, percolated, French press, Capp, Frapp, whatever, I've compiled a list of faves for the bean's every incarnation. The honor for awesome Turkish coffee has to go to Kuzguncuk's Çinaralti Kahve. A place so ingrained in the local psyche, a street address is just superfluous; Istanbulus just know where it's at. From the port in Uskudar, foreigners will have to find it by following the coastal road of Pashalimani north until the Asian enclave of Kuzguncuk, and look for the café behind the bus stop.
What awaits the patron is the traditional Turkish coffee service, with a cezve--a tiny bottle-necked, handled copper pot, specifically designed to slowly boil the grounds and water until a foam appears and the steaming mélange's ready to be poured. And an espresso-sized cup and saucer, of course. Meant to be sipped in tiny amounts through pursed lips, a late morning cup with friends is an institution among housewives, either at home or in a coffee shop.
The added bonus that Kuzguncuk lies on the coast means that enjoying a cup also means reveling in some pretty awesome scenery. And, if time allows, the quaint, historical village also offers a ton of sanctuaries and art galleries.
Tel: 0216/422 10 36
ORDERING COFFEE:
SUGARLESS: SADE (Pron. Saadey)
JUST A TAD OF SWEETNESS: AZ SEKERLI (Pron. Az Shekerlee)
SWEET: ORTA (Pron. as it sounds)
EVEN SWEETER: SEKERLI (Pron. Shekerlee)