The world’s first encapsulated Turkish coffee machine

The Turkish Coffee Culture and Research Association, founded in 2008, opened an exhibition last year at Topkapı Palace in Istanbul titled, “A drop of Pleasure: 500 years of Turkish Coffee” and a 400-page book was published for the occasion. 

This book has a special place in my library and I take pleasure in reading it. It also has pictures of unique coffee cups from personal collections and Topkapı Palace, as well as tombstones from Ottoman times in places like Kayseri, Sıvas and Adıyaman. 

You would indeed ask about the association between tombstones and coffee. Since the 16th century, the coffee culture has been so widespread in this land that from roasting it to making it and drinking it, all objects used in the process have been inscribed on tombstones and tombs. 

Coffee was first brought to Istanbul in 1717 during the era of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent by the governor of Yemen. Coffeehouses became widespread during the 17th century and were even inside social complexes built in certain regions.   

In Ottoman times, Turkish coffee had it rituals, just like the tea drinking ceremonies of the Japanese. Does the world know about Turkish coffee, which has a 500-year past? Unfortunately, no.

Despite all this richness, just like the Turkish cuisine, Turkish coffee is not at the place it deserves to be. It is possible to say that Turkish coffee is not known in the world. 

Despite the efforts of the Turkish Coffee Culture and Research Association, there is a long way ahead for Turkish coffee. 

One of the biggest reasons for this is that even though the first espresso machine was made in 1905, the mechanization process of Turkish coffee only began in 2000. 

Two major brands behind the mechanization of Turkish coffee are innovation giant Arçelik of Koç Holding and small household appliances producer Arzum. 

The CEO of Arzum, Murat Kolbaşı, while talking about “Okka,” which facilitates the rather elaborate process of Turkish coffee making, said, “My dream is that every day 1.5 billion Chinese drink Turkish coffee.”

I don’t know how much of Kolbaşı’s dream would come true but an innovation that could enable Turkish coffee to rapidly spread around the world came from Arçelik. They have produced the first encapsulated Turkish coffee for Selamlique Istanbul, a brand founded by Caroline Koç, the wife of the late Mustafa Koç, and her partner Banu Yentür.

The partners were producing textile and coffee under the brand Haremlique and started producing coffee under the brand Selamlique a few years ago.

The coffee factory founded in the Aegean province of İzmir is producing Turkish coffee with or without aroma with modern techniques and standards. 

Selamlique Istanbul is sold in 12 countries and more than 20 points of sale, including Harrods in London.

The world’s first encapsulated Turkish coffee machine is opening the door to a new era for Turkish coffee, as Caroline Koç said recently.