Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi

istanbul has a long and complicated relationship with coffee, one that predates espresso culture by centuries, and that history makes every cup feel like it's in conversation with something older. kurukahveci mehmet efendi, on tahmis sokak in fatih, sits right inside that conversation. the street itself has been associated with coffee trading since the ottoman era, which means you're not just stopping for a drink, you're standing in a part of the city where coffee has always been taken seriously. locally well regarded, it draws people who know the difference between a place that happens to serve espresso and one that has a considered point of view about it. come for the espresso, and give yourself a few extra minutes on tahmis sokak before you leave.