Whether you’re walking the streets of Istanbul or exploring the Mediterranean coast, in Turkey the rich smell of freshly brewed coffee is always in the air.

Turkish coffee, sometimes referred to as Arabic coffee, uses a method of brewing an unfiltered and incredibly strong cup of coffee. It has been an integral part of the Turkish life-style since the 16^th century, and continues today as a popular social symbol of Turkish culture.

This style of coffee is intended to be savored over good conversation or table games like bridge, backgammon and other card games which are popular in traditional coffeehouses. Most importantly, a cup of Turkish coffee is savored, sipped slowly and never rushed.

Brewing Turkish coffee is a simple, yet specific process. It all begins with roasted coffee beans ground to an incredibly fine powder-like texture from a small hand mill, specifically designed to crank out the ideal consistency. The grind — and sometimes a dash of cardamom — is then added to a small copper pot, called a Cevze, and brewed carefully over a flame for a few minutes until a thin layer of foam develops.

The most distinctive characteristic of Turkish coffee is that it is unfiltered, which may seem like a turn-off for people who are used to drip coffee and French press techniques. After a few minutes the grinds settle at the bottom of your cup and as you get close to the layer of muddy looking grinds at the bottom, it’s time to stop.

While it may seem a bit odd to allow the grinds to remain in what is an already small cup of coffee, they do not go to waste. In coffee houses, there is a rich tradition of fortunetelling that accompanies the Turkish coffee experience. If you wish to have your fortune told from your grinds, it is recommended to drink only from one side of the cup. Although the fortunetelling process varies among professionals, it is most popular to place the saucer on top of your cup and make a wish before inverting the cup and saucer to cool. Some coffeehouses have hired professional fortunetellers to entertain their guests with divination, but it can also be done among friends or family and is popular at ceremonies like weddings.

Quick tip: Although fortunetellers may be able to see into your future, your waiter cannot. If you like your coffee on the sweeter side, or with milk, you need to specify this when you order Turkish coffee by requesting sweet, sekerli, medium sweet, orta sekerli, or plain, sade.

— Amanda Ekstrand, intern