Washington D.C. - The seventh edition of the Yunus Emre Institute in Washington D.C.’s flagship program called Turkish Coffee Happy Hour kicked off on May 7th with a group of curious and excited guests. Turkish coffee is a unique and socially significant drink in Turkey that is known for being delicious and bringing people together. Through a presentation of culturally significant information and then competing in a fun trivia game, our guests were able to leave with a new way to enjoy coffee.
To understand the importance of Turkish coffee and to ensure the full social experience, Virtual Turkish Coffee Happy Hour has four sections. The guests first entered the Zoom event to begin their evening and were welcomed by the Yunus Emre Institute in Washington D.C.’s Public Relations Assistants Harper and Matt. In the virtual misafir odası, meaning guest room, guests began their experience by learning about the basics of Turkish coffee. Discussions of historical and societal traditions of Turkish coffee ensued. The event eventually moved into the virtual mutfak, meaning kitchen, where guests learned about the brewing process of Turkish coffee and what materials are needed to make the perfect cup. Following the presentation, the sohbet session provided a space for guests to share their personal experiences with Turkish coffee and asked poignant questions. Rounding out the event, there was a game of trivia that the guests participated in for the grand prize. The game ended with the triumphant winner receiving a Turkish coffee set to make the delicious drink at home. The guests then took a group picture so that this fun and informative evening will be remembered.
Throughout the event, guests asked questions that they were curious about. One guest noticed that creamer was not added to Turkish coffee and asked why this was. In addition, she wanted to know what to do to prepare a weaker cup of Turkish coffee if it happened to be too strong. The staff responded by explaining that in order to preserve the authentic flavor of Turkish coffee, no extra flavors are added. Also, if a person wants their cup of coffee to be stronger or weaker, the preparer can manipulate how much coffee is added when brewing. Since Turkish coffee is served with lokum, also known as Turkish delight, the sweetness can help with the strength of the coffee’s flavor. Guests enjoyed an authentic Turkish coffee experience and were happy to engage with the information by asking questions to the hosts.
The Yunus Emre Foundation is a public foundation designed to educate the public about Turkey and its language, history, culture, and art. The Foundation makes such related information and documents available for use in the world. Facilitating cultural exchange between Turkey and other countries is a central objective of the Foundation. If you are interested in receiving more information, please email washingtondc@yee.org.tr.