Even though coffee had not reached Europe until 17th century, some sources claim that this plant reached Balkans two centuries before, because it was brought by the Ottoman Empire. This beverage is consumed a lot in Balkans even today, and each country has its own style of preparation and its own name for it: in Turkey it is called Turkish coffee, in Greece they get a bit angry if you call it that way, because for them it is Greek coffee. In Serbia more and more people call it Serbian coffee, and in Bosnia it is, you guess, Bosnian coffee – but the name “Turkish coffee” is still very common in these countries.
Even though the names and the preparation of coffee differ from one country to another, what they all have in common is that drinking coffee is a ritual and a social activity more than something you simply do to wake up.
Bosnian coffee is traditionally made in copper pot called džezva. A full teaspoon of fine grounded coffee is added to the pot, it is baked shortly on the stove, and then boiling water is poured over it. After this, coffee is left to boil again, and some people like to repeat this boiling process several times before they serve the coffee. When it comes to serving, the pot full of coffee is put on a plate, together with a cup, a glass of water, a sugar cube and a piece of Turkish delight. In some parts of Bosnia, you will also get another pot filled with hot water, so you can add it to the coffee in case it is too strong.
When you get invited for a coffee in Bosnia, it means you are invited to have a chat and maybe some gossiping as well. Therefore, get ready for some time off, relax and enjoy the talk and your cup of this aromatic beverage.
1 Comment