Centuries ago, when people devoted more time to attend to the demands of their earthly pleasures and less time to the demands of business and corporate life, coffee making developed some rituals that exist in ‘lite’ versions in our days. In old times, connoisseurs expected their coffee to be heated slowly over charcoal embers for 15 to 20 minutes, the copper coffee pot being frequently taken away from the fire to prevent overheating. A connoisseur can easily tell the difference between a properly made Turkish coffee and one prepared the way cheap restaurants would do, basically boiling the coffee quickly, degrading thus the taste and producing little if any froth that needs to cover the cup of coffee. Although to this day there are still a few people who either do or at least know the days when coffee was heated on charcoal, for all practical purposes modern electric or gas stove tops became the heating equipment of choice. To make proper Turkish coffee you need Turkish coffee beans, a Turkish coffee pot (“cezve”), and Turkish coffee cups (“fincan”), and optionally, if you want to grind the beans, a Turkish coffee grinder (“kahve degirmeni”). Note that Turkish coffee requires extra fine ground coffee which some electrical grinders fail to produce. To make Turkish coffee:   1. Pour in cold water in the coffee pot. You should use one cup of cold water for each cup you are making and then add an extra half cup “for the pot”. Add a teaspoonful of the ground Turkish coffee per cup in the water while the water is cold and stir. The amount of coffee may be varied to taste, but do not forget, there will be a thick layer of coffee grounds left at the bottom of your cup for properly made Turkish coffee. Don’t fill the pot too much. If you need to add sugar this is the time to do it.   2. Heat the pot as slowly as you can. The slower the heat the better it is. Make sure you watch it to prevent overflowing when the water boils. 3. When the water boils pour some (not all) of the coffee equally between the cups, filling each cup about a quarter to a third of the way. This will make sure that everybody gets a fair share of the foam forming on top of the pot, without which coffee loses much of its taste. Continue heating until coffee boils again (which will be very short now that it has already boiled). Then distribute the rest of the coffee between the cups. Since there is no filtering of coffee at any time during this process, you should wait for a few minutes before drinking your delicious Turkish coffee while the coffee grounds settle at the bottom of the cup.

Should you find it difficult to see anything in your coffee cup in the beginning don't worry. The images will not be like a photograph, in fact they may appear incomplete, blurry and downright unintelligible. Relax! Let your mind and imagination scan the cup once or twice, turn the cup, tip it toward you or away looking at the coffee grains as you do so. Soon you will make out one image then another and before you know it they'll be leaping out at you in their dozens. Symbols and their meanings: 

Angel: Good news and happiness approaching.

 Ant: Determination in an activity will bear fruit. 

Baby or Cot: Minor worries will occupy you. 

Ball: Someone known to you involved with sport or short periods of luck and misfortune. 

Beans: Financial difficulties. Bear: Facing handle - Think carefully about new decisions. Looking away from handle - You will go on an important journey. 

Bee: You will make new friends and hear good news. Near handle - old Friends gathering. Going away from the handle - Old friends are seeking you. 

Swarm of bees - You will make an impact in a large gathering. 

Beetle: A difficult task will test your mettle. 

Bell: Surprising news. Near top of cup - Career advancement. Near bottom of cup - Upset, disappointment. 

Two bells - Heartfelt joy. 

Candle: Another person will help you succeed. Knowledge and learning 

Cat: A quarrel will disrupt your life but only for a short time.

Chain: A legal union, a marriage or business partnership. 

Chair: An unforeseen guest. 

Circle: Success coming around. 

Circle with a dot near - A new addition to the family (baby). 

Circle with lines nearby - Your efforts are  being hindered. 

Claw: Enemy. Knife: Enemies plotting. Danger ahead. 

Devil or horns: Beware of influential people around you. Danger approaches. 

Dog: Good, reliable friends. Faithful partner. Near bottom of cup - Friends needing help. 

Eagle: Great improvements in your life. Ear: Surprising news will reach you. 

Earring: Careful explanation needed. 

Egg: Wealth and success. Eye: Envy, jealousy. 

Face: Concern for you by a loved one. 

Fish: Life will become richer, happier and more attractive to you. 

Flag: Danger-in-wait. 

Fruit: Prosperity in your endeavors. 

Gate: Opportunities for success. 

Hand: Friendship and family. 

Heart: Love, faith and trust. 

Horse: Strength, independence. 

Key: Doors opening for you. 

Letter: Good financial news coming. 

Lines: Straight - Trouble free progress. Wavy - difficult progress - Slanting means failure. 

Man: Near handle and distinct - visitor with dark hair. Blurred image - A fair haired visitor. Arm outstretched - he brings a gift. 

Moon: Full - Love. Crescent - religious calling. 

Owl: Disreputable person. Scandal. Pear: Financial security. 

Ring: Marriage. Broken ring - marriage in trouble. 

Scissors: Arguments in the home.

 Spider: Unexpected money on its way. 

Sun: Power. Success. Sword: Enemies will fall.

 Tree: Changes for the better on there way. 

Triangle: A change coming. Pointing up - change is good. Pointing down - bad. Wheel: Fortunes will change. 

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