Why Is Turkish Coffee Served In Small Cups?

Turkish coffee is steeped in history and rich tradition, one of which includes the use of tiny cups.

But what is the rationale behind these enduring customs? The reasons are both practical and rooted in charming antiquity.

After exploring the reasons behind the tradition, if you’re interested in finding the perfect vessels for your brew, check out our take on the best Turkish coffee cups.

Turkish coffee strength and flavor

Coffee beans used in Turkish coffee are finely ground, much finer than what you would use for espresso. It’s often ground to a consistency, almost like powder. 

This fine grind allows more surface area of the coffee bean to come into contact with the water, resulting in a fuller extraction of flavors.

The finely ground coffee is mixed with water (and often sugar) in a small, special pot known as a ‘cezve‘ or ‘ibrik’. This mixture is then brought to a near boil.

Unlike many other coffee brewing methods, Turkish coffee does not use any sort of filtration system. This means the coffee grounds are left in the liquid when it’s poured into the cup.

This lack of filtration, combined with the fine grind and the brewing method, results in a coffee that is quite strong and intense. 

Serving Turkish coffee in small cups is a practical way to balance out its strength and intensity. The smaller serving size tempers the robustness of the coffee, allowing you to savor its rich flavors without it becoming overwhelming or overly potent. 

Turkish tradition and culture

The tradition of serving and consuming coffee in Turkey dates back to the 16th century during the reign of the Ottoman Empire. 

Over centuries, it has become an integral part of Turkish culture and a symbol of Turkish hospitality.

Turkish coffee is not just a beverage but a social experience. It is often served during social gatherings, family meetings, or business negotiations and forms a part of various ceremonial contexts, such as a prospective groom’s visit to his potential bride’s family.

The small size of the cup contributes to the ritual of savoring the coffee slowly, encouraging conversation and interaction. 

Instead of quickly drinking a large cup of coffee, the small serving size allows for the slow consumption of a potent, flavorful drink.

Fun fact: In 2013, Turkish coffee culture and tradition were listed as Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, underlining the significance of this coffee tradition in Turkish culture and society.

Coffee serving tradition

When served traditionally, Turkish coffee is often accompanied by a glass of water and a small sweet, commonly Turkish delight (lokum). Each of these elements contributes to the overall experience of enjoying Turkish coffee, each enhancing and balancing the others.

Turkish coffee: As discussed previously, Turkish coffee is strong and full-bodied, with an intense flavor. The small serving size allows you to savor its rich flavor without it becoming overwhelming.

A glass of water: The water serves a few purposes. Firstly, it’s typically consumed before the coffee to cleanse the palate, ensuring that you can fully appreciate the intense flavors of the coffee. Secondly, if the coffee’s taste is too strong or the aftertaste is too lingering, the water is there to rinse your mouth. It essentially creates a ‘reset’ between sips or after finishing the coffee and helps prevent dehydration from the caffeine.

Sweet treat: Turkish coffee is often brewed with sugar, but it can still have a slightly bitter taste due to its intensity and the types of coffee beans commonly used. A sweet treat like Turkish delight is served alongside, providing a contrast to the coffee’s bitterness.

Turkish coffee grounds reading

Tasseography, or the art of reading coffee grounds, is an age-old tradition that’s prevalent in many cultures, including Turkish culture. 

The practice involves interpreting the patterns left by coffee grounds in the cup after the coffee has been consumed.

The small size of the Turkish coffee cup contributes to this practice in a couple of ways. First, it allows the coffee grounds to create distinct, detailed patterns on the inner surface of the cup. 

A larger cup could dilute the grounds too much and make the patterns harder to see or interpret. Second, the concentrated amount of coffee grounds at the bottom of the small cup provides a good amount of material for forming these images or symbols.

Final thoughts

The tradition of serving Turkish coffee in small cups has both practical and historical roots, delicately woven into the rich tapestry of Turkish culture and customs. 

These tiny cups help balance the strong, intense flavors of Turkish coffee and foster a social atmosphere that encourages conversation and connection. 

The small cup size also enhances the coffee-drinking experience by complementing other elements like a glass of water and a sweet treat and plays a significant role in the ancient practice of tasseography. Make sure to check out this article to learn where to find amazing Turkish coffee cups.