The “Beta Yeni Han 1554 Coffee Museum” was opened in the historical Inn, one of the first places where coffee was roasted in Istanbul.
By Erol Güler, PhD
Turkish coffee culture and tradition has been registered as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2013 and is the first beverage to be included to the list. The date of this recognition, December 5, is now celebrated globally as “World Turkish Coffee Day.” The Coffee Museum in Istanbul was opened in 2024.
The idea of a coffee museum was around for a long time. However, during the restoration of the historic Beta Yeni Han (Han means inn in Turkish) it was learned that this inn’s courtyard was used as a coffee house for years. Also, the oldest known coffee ovens were found here. According to records, the first known coffee house in the world was opened in this region in 1554. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism also approved the museum as the first coffee house in İstanbul and, for that matter, in the world. Antique artifacts used in the Ottoman period are exhibited in the museum, including all equipment used in the production and preparation of coffee, such as coffee roasting pans and pots. Also, replicas of the cups used by Atatürk and II. Abdulhamid are displayed. In addition, cups used in the Ottoman palace in the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries are also exhibited in the museum.
The mayor of Fatih, Mehmet Ergün Turan, and many protocols attended the opening ceremony of yjr coffee museum where many coffee-related topics such as the history of coffee, coffee stories, coffee ceremony, and coffee brewing were conveyed through enjoyable conversations. Turkish Coffee Culture and Research Association (https://www.turkkahvesidernegi.org/) President Nuri Çolakoğlu, Beta Gıda Istanbul Branch Manager Hatice Uğur, and Arzum Electrical Home Appliances Board Chairman Murat Kolbaşı were the speakers. On the opening day “Art of Coffee” works prepared with coffee by the painter Mücella Balyemez were exhibited. Our Washington, DC, community knows this type of art very well, since Micro Art Master Hasan Kale demonstrated coffee painting, especially on Turkish coffee cups, on many occasions.
The Journey of Turkish Coffee: From the Heart of the Ottoman Empire to the World
Turkish coffee, a symbol of hospitality and rich tradition, has a long and fascinating history that stretches across centuries and borders. From its humble beginnings to becoming an iconic beverage in the global coffee culture, Turkish coffee’s journey is a testament to the fusion of cultures. The story of Turkish coffee begins in Yemen, which was then part of the Ottoman Empire’s realm. It is widely believed that coffee beans were first cultivated in the 15th century and according to legend, coffee was discovered by a goat herder who noticed that his goats became energized after eating the red berries of a particular shrub. The beans were soon used to make a drink that would become a staple of the region’s culture. It was not until the 16th century, however, that coffee made its way to Istanbul, where it would undergo a transformation that made it famous as Turkish coffee.
During the reign of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, coffee began to be served in the imperial court. The beverage’s popularity quickly spread throughout the empire, and coffeehouses began to emerge in Istanbul’s bustling streets. The first Turkish coffeehouse opened in 1554, a critical milestone in the drink’s evolution. These coffeehouses, called “Kahvehane,” became centers for intellectual discussions, poetry, music, and social interaction. They were often referred to as the “universities of the poor,” where people from all walks of life would gather to share ideas. The significance of coffeehouses in Ottoman society cannot be overstated; they were places where people came to unwind, converse, and connect.
As the Ottoman Empire’s influence spread across Europe, Turkish coffee made its way into neighboring countries like Greece, Bosnia, and Lebanon. By the 17th century, Turkish coffee had reached Europe, where it would become a part of the continent’s emerging café culture. In the 19th century, coffeehouses in Paris, Vienna, and London adopted the Turkish-style brew, adding to the drink’s international appeal.
The spread of coffee to the Americas started when European colonial powers established coffee plantations in tropical regions. The French introduced coffee to the Caribbean, while the Dutch planted it in Java, an island in present-day Indonesia. Coffee soon became a valuable cash crop, with vast plantations established in places like Brazil, which would eventually become the world’s largest producer. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the global demand for coffee surged, as European nations and later, the United States, developed a taste for the beverage. Coffee was no longer just a drink for the elite; it became a commodity that was consumed by people of all classes. By the 20th century, coffee had firmly established itself as one of the world’s most traded goods, consumed daily by millions of people worldwide.
The Unique Preparation: A Ritual of Coffee Making
What sets Turkish coffee apart from other coffee cultures is its distinctive preparation method. Unlike other brewing methods where coffee is filtered or dripped, Turkish coffee is brewed slowly and deliberately in a special pot called a cezve. The coffee is ground to a fine powder, almost like flour, and combined with water and sugar (optional). The mixture is then gently heated over a low flame, allowing the coffee to froth and bubble without boiling. The drink is served in small cups, with the grounds left at the bottom, creating a thick, rich, and full-bodied brew. This ritualistic preparation process is as much an art form as it is a science, requiring precision and patience. Turkish coffee is often enjoyed slowly, accompanied by conversation or even fortune-telling, as the grounds left in the cup are believed to reveal one’s future.
Cultural Significance: A Symbol of Hospitality
In Türkiye, coffee is not just a drink but a vital part of daily life and a marker of social connection. Offering coffee to a guest is considered an essential expression of hospitality. A Turkish proverb famously says, “A cup of coffee is remembered for forty years,” highlighting the deep emotional significance the drink holds in Turkish culture.
Turkish coffee also plays a key role in life’s milestones. It is often served when the groom’s family comes to visit the bride’s family for the first time by the bride. The preparation of Turkish coffee holds symbolic meaning, representing respect, care, and the seriousness of the occasion. ■
“Turkish coffee culture and tradition” as manifested by UNESCO
Turkish coffee combines special preparation and brewing techniques with a rich communal traditional culture. The freshly roasted beans are ground to a fine powder; then the ground coffee, cold water, and sugar are added to a coffee pot and brewed slowly on a stove to produce the desired foam. The beverage is served in small cups, accompanied by a glass of water, and is mainly drunk in coffee-houses where people meet to converse, share news and read books. The tradition itself is a symbol of hospitality, friendship, refinement, and entertainment that permeates all walks of life. An invitation for coffee among friends provides an opportunity for intimate talk and the sharing of daily concerns. Turkish coffee also plays an important role on social occasions such as engagement ceremonies and holidays; its knowledge and rituals are transmitted informally by family members through observation and participation. The grounds left in the empty cup are often used to tell a person’s fortune. Turkish coffee is regarded as part of Turkish cultural heritage: it is celebrated in literature and songs, and is an indispensable part of ceremonial occasions.
The Han (Inn) which houses the coffee museum was named differently in many historical documents as the Hasırcılar Han, Tahmis Han, or Yeni Han. The Yeni Han has a special story among the other Hans’ that has an important value in Turkish history and carried the traces of the unfortunate damage of many years. Recently it has opened its doors again under the name of “Beta Yeni Han” with the renovation that remained faithful to the essence and spirit of Yeni Han carried out by Beta Gıda. Today, the continuity of an important historical heritage is provided by the perfect renovation in coherence with modern dynamism of this magnificent structure of the Ottoman era which presents the architectural and visual elegance of İstanbul Eminönü internationally.
