Washington, D.C. - The Yunus Emre Institute in Washington D.C. hosted the 12th edition of the virtual Turkish Coffee Happy Hour on October 1st, 2021. Guests from many different backgrounds joined this event to learn about Turkish coffee. They were able to learn about its history, cultural significance, the brewing process, and eventually were able to show what they had learned in a competitive game of trivia.
Guests were initially welcomed by Public Relations Assistants Harper and Matt, who discussed the outline of the program. Once everyone was settled in, guests entered the virtual misafir odası session, meaning guest room in Turkish. They learned about the historical and cultural importance of Turkish coffee, dating back to the 16th century Ottoman Empire. After learning about its history, guests entered the mutfak, meaning kitchen, to learn about the brewing process by watching a video. The video demonstrates the proper way to make a good cup of Turkish coffee from scratch. The subsequent sohbet session, meaning chat, provided a nice break for guests to talk and ask questions. Finally, guests were able to compete with each other in a head-to-head trivia competition and the first prize winner earned an authentic Turkish coffee set.
Guests were encouraged to share their questions, comments, and stories throughout the event. One guest was curious about Turkish tea culture and how it compared to coffee culture. They learned how Turkish coffee and tea’s popularity have fluctuated over time but that they are both greatly enjoyed. Turkey is one of the leading tea-drinking countries in the world, but sharing coffee has social significance on special occasions and is a sign of social trust. As the guests left the meeting room, they used the Turkish phrase that they learned during the event, teşekkür ederim, which means thank you.
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.