Turkish Coffee Reading (Kahve Falı)

The history of kahve falı

Coffee arrived in Istanbul in the sixteenth century and quickly became central to Ottoman social life. Along with the coffeehouses came the tradition of reading the cup. After sharing a pot of thick, unfiltered Turkish coffee, friends and family would turn their cups over and read one another's fortunes, a custom that continues in homes across Turkey, the Balkans and the Middle East to this day.

How to brew and read Turkish coffee

A proper reading depends on a proper cup. Because Turkish coffee is unfiltered, it leaves the fine grounds needed to form clear symbols. Follow these steps:

1. 1Brew the coffee. Combine finely ground coffee, cold water and optional sugar in a cezve and heat slowly until a thick foam rises. Do not stir once it foams.
2. 2Serve and drink. Pour into a small cup, foam and all, and sip slowly while leaving the thick grounds at the bottom.
3. 3Make your wish. When only grounds remain, hold the cup, focus on your question or wish, and swirl the cup a few times.
4. 4Invert the cup. Turn the cup upside down onto the saucer, optionally place a coin on the base, and let it cool completely.
5. 5Read the fal. Turn the cup upright and read the symbols, starting from the handle and moving around and down toward the base.

Reading the cup and the saucer

In Turkish tradition, both the cup and the saucer are read. The cup reveals matters of the heart, relationships and the querent's inner world, while the saucer often relates to home, money and material concerns. The shapes closest to the handle relate to the person and their household; those on the far side relate to the outside world. A clear white patch is considered a very good omen, a sign of clarity and open roads ahead.