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WIRED
31-05-2025
- General
- WIRED
Never Drink Alone: A Guide to Turkish Coffee
Not quite espresso and not quite drip, Turkish coffee is more than a morning pick-me-up. It's a social activity rooted in cultural tradition. Courtesy of Denmex; Elite; Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi All products featured on WIRED are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links. Out of all caffeinated rituals, Turkish coffee takes the (coffee) cake. That's because, according to some experts, Turkish coffee isn't a type of coffee—it's a cooking method. Commonly seen across Middle Eastern cultures, the beverage looks and acts similar to espresso, served in a small cup and tasting very rich yet very different. Turkish coffee is made with coffee ground finer than espresso (the ideal Turkish coffee grind has a flourlike consistency) and a brewing process that involves boiling three times. It's an unfiltered drink, so the coffee grounds eventually settle to the bottom of the cup. The grounds make for a thick drink, but they also play an important role in the auspicious ritual of fortune telling, a practice that ultimately inspired my love for the brew. My introduction to Turkish coffee was with my sister's Iranian family (we have different fathers. Her father, Ali, is from Iran). Upon visiting them to celebrate the Persian New Year, my sister's aunt made Turkish coffee after dinner one evening and a family friend proceeded to 'read' the coffee grounds and tell us our fortunes (I dive into the specifics of this process more below). While I cannot adhere to the validity of fortune telling, I will say that the family friend predicted I'd have a son. That was over 10 years ago. At the end of 2024, I gave birth to my first child, a healthy baby boy. But you don't have to get your fortune told to enjoy Turkish coffee. You also don't have to search too far and wide across the coffee forums to find strong opinions about the strong coffee and how it should be made. This was possibly my biggest setback in research, as there are those who suggest beginning the brew with hot water, while others suggest cold water. Some suggest sugar, others without. Some suggest high heat, others low. You might have even seen Turkish coffee being prepared in sand. (The owner at my local Palestinian deli tells me that this is mostly a tourist gimmick.) So, to the coffee nerds, the anal and the meticulous, if you're hoping for a 'right' way to make Turkish coffee, I hate to disappoint you. Those who make Turkish coffee in their home regularly measure and brew with their heart, and each household has a similar but almost always slightly different method. It's your preferences that will ultimately guide the ins and outs of your brewing. Table of Contents Turkish coffee is often served in a cup that's usually no more than 2 ounces. It might look similar to espresso, but while espresso is brewed under high pressure, Turkish coffee is brewed by boiling finely ground (even more fine of a grind than espresso) coffee in a cezve . A cezve (referred to as an ibrik in other countries like Palestine) is a small pot with a long handle, usually holding around 10 to 15 ounces and made out of copper. Generally, Turkish coffee is boiled in the cezve in three parts. After each boil, a small amount is poured into the coffee cup. The cezve is returned to the stove after each pour until you've filled your cups. The process of boiling the coffee multiple creates a thick and frothy coffee that is very strong and very aromatic. Ideally, Turkish coffee is ground with a traditional Turkish coffee grinder like this. Because Turkish coffee is ground to a fineness that most commercial coffee grinders cannot achieve, your best bet is to buy it pre-ground (I've suggested a few brands below). I almost considered using my Sana Grain Mill (8/10, WIRED Recommends) to see if I could achieve the grind, but didn't want to risk the coffee flavor in my homemade flour. Traditionally, finely ground Turkish coffee is mixed with water in a cezve, along with some sugar, depending on your preferences. You'll bring the coffee to a boil on low/medium heat over an open flame, usually in three parts. The first boil will develop a foam (think crema, as seen in other coffee drinks). This foam is essential to Turkish coffee, as the drink's frothy thickness makes it stand out from others. Some recipes suggest using a spoon to scoop the initial foam into your prepared cups. Otherwise, you'll use the cezve to pour it into your prepared coffee cups a little at a time. Put the cezve back on the stove to boil and repeat this process twice more until you've filled your coffee cups to the rim. As I mentioned earlier, it's important to note that, unlike other coffee styles in which technicality is prioritized with scales and thermometers, you'll see neither of these aspects come into play when making Turkish coffee. With roots that date back to the 16th century in the Ottoman Empire, Turkish coffee is a drink integrated into and born of a culture. So, think of Turkish coffee like your grandma's cooking—a recipe acts as a guide, but it is ultimately a process that is led with the heart. You may not place much stock in auspicious practices, and I don't blame you. But in case you're curious, there are traditions to be respected. The fortune-telling process begins once you've finished your drink. You'll place your coffee cup upside down on its saucer. The grounds will drip and scatter, and this is what the fortune teller will analyze to determine your fortune. Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi Just as my family friend read my coffee grounds on that fateful day 10 years ago, the practice of fortune telling through Turkish coffee should be done by someone who is experienced in the craft. It is strongly suggested that you do not try to read your own fortune. This act of fortune telling also establishes something important when it comes to Turkish coffee: It's a social activity—something meant to be enjoyed with company. It's not a science. A great example of this is my local Palestinian deli using hot water to make its Turkish coffee. Beginning with hot water may go against what some coffee aficionados recommend (beginning with cold water is usually ideal for any brewing process to achieve optimal flavor and extraction), but many places selling Turkish coffee do this to speed up the process and serve their customers more quickly. When making the recipe below, don't focus on being too technical. Yields 2 2-ounce cups of Turkish coffee 1 cezve 2 small (2 oz.) coffee cups 2 heaping Tbsp Turkish coffee 6 ounces water 1 tsp sugar (optional) Combine Turkish coffee, sugar, and water in your cezve. Stir until combined. Put cezve over a low/medium gas stove flame and slowly bring to a boil over a couple of minutes (if it boils too fast, it's harder to develop the initial foam). Once boiling to the top, quickly take the cezve off the stove and pour a small amount into your prepared cups (about half an ounce). Return the cezve to the open flame and bring to a boil. Repeat steps 3 to 4 twice more until you've filled your cups to the brim. Serve immediately. You can prepare Turkish coffee over a non-gas stove, although it will take longer When I say heaping, I mean heaping ! Don't be afraid to indulge. ! Don't be afraid to indulge. My local Palestinian deli grinds cardamom into its coffee. It takes the flavor to the next level.
Nahar Net
07-04-2025
- Business
- Nahar Net
Iran's currency falls to record low against dollar as tensions run high
by Naharnet Newsdesk 07 April 2025, 14:41 Iran 's rial currency traded Saturday at a record low against the U.S. dollar as the country returned to work after a long holiday, costing over 1 million rials for a single greenback as tensions between Tehran and Washington likely will push it even lower. The exchange rate had plunged to over 1 million rials during the Persian New Year, Nowruz, as currency shops closed and only informal trading took place on the streets, creating additional pressure on the market. But as traders resumed work Saturday, the rate fell even further to 1,043,000 to the dollar, signaling the new low appeared here to stay. On Ferdowsi Street in Iran's capital, Tehran, the heart of the country's money exchanges, some traders even switched off their electronic signs showing the going rate as uncertainty loomed over how much further the rial could drop. "We turn it off since we are not sure about the successive changes of the rate," said Reza Sharifi, who works at one exchange. Tensions with US squeeze the rial Iran's economy has been severely affected by international sanctions, particularly after U.S. President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew America from Tehran's nuclear deal with world powers in 2018. At the time of the 2015 deal, which saw Iran drastically limit its enrichment and stockpiling of uranium in exchange for lifting of international sanctions, the rial traded at 32,000 to the dollar. After Trump returned to the White House for his second term in January, he restarted his so-called "maximum pressure" campaign targeting Tehran with sanctions. He again went after firms trading Iranian crude oil, including those selling at a discount in China. Trump meanwhile has written to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, trying to jumpstart direct talks between Tehran and Washington. So far, Iran has maintained it is willing for indirect talks, but such discussions under the Biden administration failed to make headway. Meanwhile, Trump is continuing an intense airstrike campaign targeting the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, the last force in Tehran's self-described "Axis of Resistance" able to attack Israel after other militant groups were mauled by Israel during its war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Mehdi Darabi, a market analyst, said he believed that foreign pressures in recent months caused "expectations for the possibility of a decrease in oil sales and more inflation, and it caused a higher rate for hard currencies," according to Tehran's Donay-e-Eqtesad economic newspaper. A pensioner who gave only his first name, Saeed, for fear of reprisals, said if Iran stopped its hostile policy toward the outside, financial relief could be possible. "If we want to live a comfortable life, we should maintain good ties with our neighbors," he said. "We shouldn't bare our teeth at them. They will do the same." Economic pressure inflames Iranian public and politics Economic upheavals have evaporated the public's savings, pushing average Iranians into holding onto hard currencies, gold, cars and other tangible wealth. Others pursue cryptocurrencies or fall into get-rich-quick schemes. Meanwhile, internal political pressure remains inflamed still over the mandatory hijab, or headscarf, with women still ignoring the law on the streets of Tehran. Rumors also persist over the government potentially increasing the cost of subsidized gasoline in the country, which has sparked nationwide protests in the past. Iran's theocracy has responded by dialing broadly back hijab enforcement and easing restrictions on at least one political figure. On Saturday, the state-run IRNA news agency even quoted a portions of a statement from Mehdi Karroubi, a Shiite cleric, parliament speaker and two-time presidential candidate who has been held in his home since the 2011 Arab Spring protests. Karroubi, who also was one of the leaders of Iran's 2009 Green Movement protests, is in the process of being released from house arrest. "The end of my house arrest has coincided with a super-crisis that has ... put the country at the verge of devastating war," his statement said. The falling rial has put more pressure as well on Iranian reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian. In March, when the rate was 930,000 rials to the dollar, Iran's parliament impeached his finance minister, Abdolnasser Hemmati over the crashing rial and accusations of mismanagement. Anger over government spending also saw Pezeshkian fire his vice president in charge of parliamentary affairs, Shahram Dabiri, for taking a luxury cruise to Antarctica, state media reported. Though Dabiri reportedly used his own money for the trip with his wife, the Instagram photos posted of his trip angered an Iranian public scrapping by to survive. "In a situation where the economic pressures on people are huge and the number of deprived people is massive, expensive recreational trip by officials even by their own personal fund is not defendable and reasonable," Pezeshkian said in firing Dabiri, who so far hasn't offered any public explanation for his trip. Pezeshkian separately said Saturday that Iran wanted a "dialogue from an equal position" with the U.S. "If you want negotiations, what is the point of threatening?" Pezeshkian asked, according to IRNA. "America today is not only humiliating Iran, but the world, and this behavior contradicts the call for negotiations."
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Thousands flock to park to celebrate traditional festival
Thousands of people flocked to a Bolton park this weekend to celebrate a traditional festival. Attendees of all ages gathered at Moses Gate Country Park in Farnworth on Sunday, April 6, to enjoy picnics as part of Sizdah Bedar festivities, which include singing, dancing and being out in nature, especially near trees and water. The Iranian festival is celebrated in the thirteenth day of the Norouz (Persian New Year) and holds great cultural significance. It is a celebration of happiness, growth and renewal and many believe that staying indoors on this scared day will bring them bad luck. READ NEXT: Private hire driver hit with hefty fine after 'big mistake' at Wanderers ground READ NEXT: Man arrested after Bolton shop machete attack Reveller Mehran had come from Southport for the day to meet up with around 25 of his friends and family. He explained that they hold the annual event in large parks and public spaces across the north west. He told The Bolton News that last year, they all meet up in a park in Wilmslow until 'the council had it banned.' People could be seen playing musical instruments, cooking on barbeques and dancing in groups with their loved ones. It was a busy day for the area as historic building Rock Hall, which sits in Moses Gate Country Park, hosted the first of three rare open days from 9.30am to 3.30pm. According to one visitor, there were 'hundreds of cars' parked up for around a mile near the park which caused some congestion for drivers.
Al Manar
06-04-2025
- Politics
- Al Manar
Iran's Response to Trump's Letter Left Room for Diplomacy: Araqchi
Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi hosted ambassadors and heads of diplomatic missions at a ceremony in Tehran on Saturday night to mark the Persian New Year (Nowruz). The event was also attended by some Iranian ministers and military officials. During the ceremony, Croatian Ambassador Drago Stambuk congratulated the audience on the arrival of spring and Nowruz, encouraging them to embrace the essence of Nowruz, which emphasizes solidarity among humans, peace, and peaceful coexistence. Following this, Foreign Minister Araqchi extended his congratulations to the attendees on the occasion of Nowruz and Eid al-Fitr, which marks the conclusion of the holy month of Ramadan. He described the past Iranian year as a time of significant incidents and challenges for Iran and the West Asia region. The minister reaffirmed the Islamic Republic's commitment to pursuing its principled and responsible policies in the New Year, which began on March 21, 2025. Araqchi also discussed Iran's stance toward international developments, saying that the country's response to U.S. President Donald Trump's letter was consistent with its content and tone, while still allowing room for diplomacy. In his remarks, he highlighted the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program. He said that Tehran has undertaken voluntary efforts to demonstrate the peaceful nature of its nuclear activities, adding that it was the United States that unilaterally withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal. Araqchi highlighted Iran's foreign policy towards neighboring countries and other nations around the world, expressing hope that mutual ties in political, economic, and cultural areas would expand in the year ahead.
Chicago Tribune
05-04-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Iran's currency falls to a record low against the dollar as tensions run high
TEHRAN, Iran — Iran's rial currency traded Saturday at a record low against the U.S. dollar as the country returned to work after a long holiday, costing over 1 million rials for a single greenback as tensions between Tehran and Washington likely will push it even lower. The exchange rate had plunged to over 1 million rials during the Persian New Year, Nowruz, as currency shops closed and only informal trading took place on the streets, creating additional pressure on the market. But as traders resumed work Saturday, the rate fell even further to 1,043,000 to the dollar, signaling the new low appeared here to stay. On Ferdowsi Street in Iran's capital, Tehran, the heart of the country's money exchanges, some traders even switched off their electronic signs showing the going rate as uncertainty loomed over how much further the rial could drop. 'We turn it off since we are not sure about the successive changes of the rate,' said Reza Sharifi, who works at one exchange. Tensions with US squeeze the rial Iran's economy has been severely affected by international sanctions, particularly after U.S. President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew America from Tehran's nuclear deal with world powers in 2018. At the time of the 2015 deal, which saw Iran drastically limit its enrichment and stockpiling of uranium in exchange for lifting of international sanctions, the rial traded at 32,000 to the dollar. After Trump returned to the White House for his second term in January, he restarted his so-called 'maximum pressure' campaign targeting Tehran with sanctions. He again went after firms trading Iranian crude oil, including those selling at a discount in China. Trump meanwhile has written to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, trying to jumpstart direct talks between Tehran and Washington. So far, Iran has maintained it is willing for indirect talks, but such discussions under the Biden administration failed to make headway. Meanwhile, Trump is continuing an intense airstrike campaign targeting the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, the last force in Tehran's self-described 'Axis of Resistance' able to attack Israel after other fighter groups were mauled by Israel during its war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Mehdi Darabi, a market analyst, said he believed that foreign pressures in recent months caused 'expectations for the possibility of a decrease in oil sales and more inflation, and it caused a higher rate for hard currencies,' according to Tehran's Donay-e-Eqtesad economic newspaper. A pensioner who gave only his first name, Saeed, for fear of reprisals, said if Iran stopped its hostile policy toward the outside, financial relief could be possible. 'If we want to live a comfortable life, we should maintain good ties with our neighbors,' he said. 'We shouldn't bare our teeth at them. They will do the same.' Economic pressure inflames Iranian public and politics Economic upheavals have evaporated the public's savings, pushing average Iranians into holding onto hard currencies, gold, cars and other tangible wealth. Others pursue cryptocurrencies or fall into get-rich-quick schemes. Meanwhile, internal political pressure remains inflamed still over the mandatory hijab, or headscarf, with women still ignoring the law on the streets of Tehran. Rumors also persist over the government potentially increasing the cost of subsidized gasoline in the country, which has sparked nationwide protests in the past. Iran's theocracy has responded by dialing broadly back hijab enforcement and easing restrictions on at least one political figure. On Saturday, the state-run IRNA news agency even quoted a portions of a statement from Mehdi Karroubi, a Shiite cleric, parliament speaker and two-time presidential candidate who has been held in his home since the 2011 Arab Spring protests. Karroubi, who also was one of the leaders of Iran's 2009 Green Movement protests, is in the process of being released from house arrest. 'The end of my house arrest has coincided with a super-crisis that has … put the country at the verge of devastating war,' his statement said. The falling rial has put more pressure as well on Iranian reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian. In March, when the rate was 930,000 rials to the dollar, Iran's parliament impeached his finance minister, Abdolnasser Hemmati over the crashing rial and accusations of mismanagement. Anger over government spending also saw Pezeshkian fire his vice president in charge of parliamentary affairs, Shahram Dabiri, for taking a luxury cruise to Antarctica, state media reported. Though Dabiri reportedly used his own money for the trip with his wife, the Instagram photos posted of his trip angered an Iranian public scrapping by to survive. 'In a situation where the economic pressures on people are huge and the number of deprived people is massive, expensive recreational trip by officials even by their own personal fund is not defendable and reasonable,' Pezeshkian said in firing Dabiri, who so far hasn't offered any public explanation for his trip. Pezeshkian separately said Saturday that Iran wanted a 'dialogue from an equal position' with the U.S. 'If you want negotiations, what is the point of threatening?' Pezeshkian asked, according to IRNA. 'America today is not only humiliating Iran, but the world, and this behavior contradicts the call for negotiations.'
