Turkish Coffee Trail
Badge of Excellence
Istanbul, Turkey
- 3 to 4 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Discover traditional techniques to making a perfect cup of Turkish coffee during this small-group coffee tour and coffee-making class in Istanbul. Alongside your professional guide, enjoy learning the craft of coffee production at a shop, plus sip delicious coffee at a few local establishments. Continue your java journey at a spice bazaar, where you will uncover the Ottoman secrets to store coffee and visit several of Istanbul's favorite coffee joints. Numbers are limited to 15 coffee connoisseurs, to maintain a more intimate experience with your guide.
- Receive a certificate after your 30-minute coffee-making workshop
- Visit a spice bazaar and see where Ottoman coffee is stored
- Hotel pickup and drop-off included
- Small-group tour limited to 15 ensures a more personalized experience
What's Included
- Professional guide
- Hotel pickup and drop-off (Hotels on the European side of Istanbul only)
- Turkish Coffee
- Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup
Operating hours.1:30 pm
Itinerary
Turkish coffee, renowned for its rich and full body, is a national delight whose tradition has beckoned palates since the era of the Ottoman Empire. Embark on a voyage to taste the perfect cup and even immerse yourself and make some too. Meet your guide at your central hotel and kick-off your small-group tour by engaging in a 30-minute coffee making workshop.
Prepare a delicious cup of Turkish coffee by heating the brew on a sand stove in a traditional copper vessel. After a short time over a small flame, the coffee becomes frothy and is ready for consumption. Enjoy the yummy taste of your masterful work and collect a course certificate.
Next, listen as your guide explains how prohibition mandates were put forth in 1519 by the Ottoman sultan after coffee beans were initially imported to Istanbul. As you stroll with your guide through an renown coffee passage, hear about the coffee shops that were pioneered in Istanbul's district of Eminönü about 30 years after the mandates. Then, relish tastings at a few coffee shops that embody centuries of coffee making heritage.
From here, continue along corridors and discover how Ottomans stored their coffee, see a fascinating spice bazaar and visit one of oldest coffee businesses in the city, Kurukahvedji Inn. At every turn, enjoy fun commentary from your expert guide who will provide the extra flavor to go with your tastes of coffee.
Prepare a delicious cup of Turkish coffee by heating the brew on a sand stove in a traditional copper vessel. After a short time over a small flame, the coffee becomes frothy and is ready for consumption. Enjoy the yummy taste of your masterful work and collect a course certificate.
Next, listen as your guide explains how prohibition mandates were put forth in 1519 by the Ottoman sultan after coffee beans were initially imported to Istanbul. As you stroll with your guide through an renown coffee passage, hear about the coffee shops that were pioneered in Istanbul's district of Eminönü about 30 years after the mandates. Then, relish tastings at a few coffee shops that embody centuries of coffee making heritage.
From here, continue along corridors and discover how Ottomans stored their coffee, see a fascinating spice bazaar and visit one of oldest coffee businesses in the city, Kurukahvedji Inn. At every turn, enjoy fun commentary from your expert guide who will provide the extra flavor to go with your tastes of coffee.
Istanbul Walks (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 4 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
John_M
A wonderful tour guided by Tuncer, who was really informative about the city, with plenty of stories, insights and jokes along the way! If you like really strong coffee, this is the ideal tour for you! I can highly recommend this tour, as well as the Grand Bazaar tour, for which I also had Tuncer as the guide.
Reviews
4.4
based on 38 reviews
Tracy_M, Nov 2024
We had a great time on this tour! We were the only 2 people and our guide was very flexible in making sure we had a good time. The stops were all unique and enjoyable and we learned a lot about how Turkish coffee is made. Tea was also available at most of the stops. It was a great way to spend the day and see the city.
Response from Host, Nov 2024
Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful experience with us! We're thrilled to hear that you had a great time and that your guide made the tour both enjoyable and flexible to your needs. Exploring unique stops and delving into the art of Turkish coffee making is truly special, and we're glad you got to savor it (and the tea too!). It was our pleasure to show you the beauty of the city, and we hope you'll join us again for more adventures.
Wishing you happy travels and warm cups of coffee (or tea) wherever you go! ☕
Joy_T, Jun 2023
Loved this tour and finding out the history of coffee in Turkey. Great coffee and fabulous guide! Warning - there is a lot of caffeine!!
Response from Host, Jan 2024
Thank you for your comments & thoughts. We would love to see you again on your İstanbul vacations. Best wishes, Caner
Janet_B, Dec 2021
This guide was rude And. very chauvinistic towards women. We had 2 cups of coffee and made one our self for $200. It was worth $10. He took us to a bathroom where we had to squat on the floor as a woman. He said this is a place for men. He showed no diversity and inclusion towards women. Worst ever
Response from Host, Jan 2022
Dear Janet,
Thank you for your review. Your opinions mean a lot for us. We pay regard to show you the authentic places, to be able to make your experience unique. And please consider that we always perform our tours with very small groups, as you were our only guests that day, with a private guide and private vehicle. Thanks
Regards
JuanDavid_P, Nov 2021
Our guide was Diana, and she was really great. She took us to places we wouldn't get there not even by chance. Also gave us an amazing journey to different coffee shops, and at the end, the tour felt like traveling with a friend.
Response from Host, Nov 2021
We are so glad to hear this. Thank you.. Hope to see you again.
John_M, Oct 2021
A wonderful tour guided by Tuncer, who was really informative about the city, with plenty of stories, insights and jokes along the way! If you like really strong coffee, this is the ideal tour for you! I can highly recommend this tour, as well as the Grand Bazaar tour, for which I also had Tuncer as the guide.
Response from Host, Oct 2021
Thank you so much John, you can't imagine how important your opinion is for us.
Sincerely
David_B, Sep 2021
Luffing was wonderful!!! Fun, humorous, knowledgeable in history, specifically in coffee instructions and a good conversationalist. He anticipated our needs and showed us many new sites of Istanbul. This is a must tour.
Response from Host, Oct 2021
Hello David,
Thank you for such a beautiful review.
Sincerely
Jithin_V, Dec 2019
I was picked by my guide Oguzhan. A real fun and informative guy. Since in that day I was the only one to be on that tour, it was more or less Personalized for me. A short introduction to the surrounding places where given on our way to the Grand bazar. A lot of history. We took a tour into the Bazar. Visited the local coffee shops in and out the Bazar. Tried a bit of Turkish coffee reading and finally a Turkish coffee making class including a certificate. As mentioned since I was the only one, Oguzhan was kind enough to include some extras into the tour.
Highly recommended rather than walking around and just clicking photos around!!
Response from Host, Jan 2020
Thank you for your comment and compliments to our guide Ozi. We would like to see you with one of our tours in İstanbul.
Sincerely,
Bilal Uğur
Sandeep M, Aug 2019
Class was cancelled couple of hour before the actual time. It would have helped if I was informed earlier, this would have helped me do something else.
Kris, Jan 2018
Wonderful tour, visited coffee houses that I would never have found if by myself. Highly recommend!
Nicholas H, Nov 2017
I had the most amazing afternoon on the Istanbul Coffee tour. The guide Ilker, was just fantastic and made it very special with his vast local knowledge and enthusiasm. The coffee making class was fun too! I would highly recommend this tour for anyone looking for something a bit different to do in Istanbul.
Alexandra_A, Sep 2017
Abolutely fascinating. Ilker is the best guide in Turkey.
nardia, Sep 2017
Enjoyed this tour learning a lot about the history of coffee, and getting to make our own Turkish Coffee. Our tour guide Yasmin was great!
Edgar_L, Oct 2016
Very informative walking tour. I learned many things about Turkish coffee and was able to try out tree types of turkish coffee. My tour guide was very knowledgeable.
Leisa J, Feb 2016
Serhat took my husband and I on a coffee tour and coffee making class. I don't even drink coffee I drank chai and I still thoroughly enjoyed the tour and the class. Getting to meet, chat and drink coffee with the local people in the coffee shop was fantastic. Interesting and fun tour.
Sheldon K, Dec 2015
Excellent...my tour guide went beyond any tour I could imagine. His knowledge was so informative.
The experience left me breathless. and I saw where they filmed the James Bond movie. Thanks
David S, Oct 2015
I do not typically review tours but this company and tour must have a high recommendation. It was necessary for me to change my date and they accommodated me with a simple phone call request. The tour guide was outstanding and this tour is a wonderful way to experience Istanbul from a different perspective - while enjoying exceptional coffee along the way!
Ellen O, Jul 2015
Although we got off to a late start, our guide did not rush us. The tour introduced us to a good range of Turkish coffees and coffee-drinking venues.
Sarina V, Apr 2015
This tour was excellent. The guide was very friendly and flexible. I learned alot about the culture of Turkey including much more than just the coffee culture.
Amanda B, Apr 2015
We had an excellent time! Our guide was very knowledgeable and was fantastic about answering our questions. It was great learning how to make the coffee, really neat! Definitely a highlight of our trip. A must-do for coffee lovers. Plus she showed us the best place to buy coffee in the spice market, so we brought some home!
Christa L, Apr 2015
The coffee was excellent and the tour guide did a fantastic job of describing the city's history. It was an excellent way to see Istanbul.
Ruperto, Dec 2014
Although we had a good time and the coffee was good, we felt that it was expensive to just taste 3 different coffees and find out Turkish coffee history. However if you are keen on savouring Turkish coffee like a local in quaint joints off the tourist track then try this tour!
Carolyn H, Oct 2014
Great guide - very knowledgeable, friendly! Best tour we took!
Godwi, May 2014
We booked this tour as an introduction to Istanbul when we knew we'd be tired after travelling by train all night to get there. Our guide, Sanem, was wonderful. She made the coffee culture come alive as we shared coffee, Turkish Delight, and stories about the city and our travels. The tour was well put together and gave us a very pleasant afternoon.
Charles L, May 2014
After a long flight, the coffee tour was just what I needed: a wonderful meandering walk through Istanbul, with lovely chat, hot, thick Turkish coffee, and a friendly, knowledgeable guide. Just be warned: three cups in three hours may lead some who are caffeine-sensitive to be a touch jittery. For me, it was just right.
Benjamin, May 2014
This tour while somewhat overpriced was definitely fun and very informative. As a barista back in the states gaining this new skill and knowledge was useful. The places within the city we went were also very interesting.
Ginger, Jan 2014
DO NOT MISS THIS TOUR!!! My husband and I went on this tour last week with Ms. Sanem. We had a blast as we learned about the history of Turkish Coffee and processes. As we were led through various cafes, we learned about the importance of Turkish Coffee presentation. We bypassed a huge line and did a tour of the Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi shop where we saw how they grind the coffee. We also went to the best sweets shop to make sure that we had the perfect Turkish Delights for our coffee. Last we made our own coffee and were presented with certificates. This was the most unique experience we had in Turkey.
maria cecilia j j, May 2014
Muy buena la guia Tour recomendable para el primer dia porque se camina por la calles de Estambul y se ve un pantallazo general
From $235.03
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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