Washington D.C. - The Yunus Emre Institute opened the 11th edition of the Virtual Turkish Coffee Happy Hour program with a diverse group of guests. They entered the virtual room via Zoom and were welcomed by Public Relations Assistants Matt and Harper. Throughout the program, guests were able to learn about the historical and cultural significance of Turkish coffee before competing for a Turkish coffee set during a classic game of trivia.
After each guest joined the room, they learned about how the Virtual Turkish Coffee Happy Hour program would proceed. Guests walked down the virtual hall to the misafir odası, meaning “guest room” in Turkish, to learn about why Turkish coffee is significant. They learned about the roasting and grinding process that the arabica beans go through and the historical context behind Ottoman coffee houses. In the mutfak, meaning “kitchen” in Turkish, the guests learned about the brewing process and how they can make the perfect cup of Turkish coffee from home. Guests were able to chat and ask questions to their hosts during the sohbet session, which translates to “chat.” Finally, guests competed for a free Turkish coffee set in a head-to-head game of Turkish coffee happy hour trivia on Kahoot. After several tricky questions, one guest came out on top as the lucky winner!
The audience had several questions about Turkish coffee. One guest asked if people could grind and make Turkish coffee at home. Many coffee grinders have a Turkish coffee setting. With the correct coffee grinder, people can grind their favorite brand of Arabica bean coffee at home. One guest was so inspired by the event they went to a local Turkish cafe to try Turkish coffee while streaming the call! The Yunus Emre Institute successfully forged 40-year friendships with its guests.
Yunus Emre Institute is a Turkish cultural center located in Washington, D.C. and around the world. The institute hosts events and programs that educate the public about Turkey’s culture, history, and language. For more information about the institute’s mission or online programs, please email washingtondc@yee.org.tr or follow @yeewdc on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.