Coffee, or translated in Turkish as “Kahve”, is an old and important tradition in Türkiye’s culture. Drinking a coffee or tea stands for hospitality, socialisation, and free time, but also for special meanings within cultural habits like engagements. Before a conversation will start, there will be time spent drinking a coffee or tea. And now, you can do that right here in Asunción, at OttomanoCafé!
How coffee from Türkiye is different
Türkiye’s coffee is not similar with an americano or espresso. You can’t compare it with that. The way to make Türkiye’s coffee goes differently. First, very strong arabica coffee beans will be ground. After that, the same amount of sugar will be added, and then water. A special ‘cerve’ will be used to make the coffee, a small Turkey’s coffee-can. It will get processed by putting the ‘cerve’ on fire. Slowly the coffee will get warm, but just before it reaches boiling point, it will be taking of the fire. It will get served in small cups with the coffee grounds still in it. The taste can be strong, so the coffee will always be served with a small glass of water. Because of the special aroma and traditional preparation, the coffee has an unique taste.
So unique, that in 2013, the traditional way of making and drinking Turkey’s coffee is added to the representative list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO.
Reading the future with Turkish coffee
Another old tradition within the Turkey’s culture is ‘tasseography’, coffee future spelling. A way to predict the future by reading the coffee grounds.
How does that work? After finishing the coffee it is needed to turn the cup around in your direction. Then put the cup upside down at the coffee saucer. The grounded coffee will gets some signs and shapes that can be read by a ‘coffee reader’ and will tell you more about the future.
OttomanoCafé in Asunción
Do you get curious now? Well good news: it is not necessary to travel all the way to Türkiye to try this typical, traditional coffee in a ‘kahvehane’, that is known as a ‘cafeteria’ here in Paraguay. OttomanoCafe is the place to be! The only and unique Türkiye’s ‘kahvehane’ located in the area of Villa Morra.
It opened six months ago, and for the coffee lovers of Asunción: This is something on another level!
OttomanoCafe is owned by two brothers. Before they opened this cafeteria early this year, they had a shop where they were selling Türkiye’s chandeliers, rugs and accessories made of porcelain. They closed that shop to open this ‘Kahvehane’.
When you enter the cafetaria you will get the feeling of being in Türkiye. All accessories are from Türkiye. Beautiful chandeliers, special cerves with small cups, and Türkiye’s music will make you forget that you are in Paraguay. The feeling of the Turkish culture is all over the place. It took the brothers two months to renovate the place and all the designs are created by them.
It is obvious that place is ment to socialise, enjoy the coffee and just have a chat with the person or persons you will bring with you. Small chance that you will check your smartphone while you are sitting there. The cafeteria is small but has enough space inside for around 30 persons, and there are also options to sit outside. In the evenings the coffee can be prepared outside with a traditional coffee car so you can see this coffee sensation yourself. It provides a warm welcome to the guests.
One of the brothers explains: “I wasn’t able to find Türkiye’s cafe in Paraguay, not only it doesn’t exist in Paraguay but it is not available in whole South America. There is coffee, but not Türkiye’s one. So I wanted to produce real Turkish coffee for the whole of South America, made in Paraguay, but original Türkiye’s coffee”.
He has lived in Paraguay now for 10 years. Before that he lived in different countries all over the world, with a lot of time in the USA and in Portugal. Before he came to Paraguay he was working in the diamonds industry. Because of that he knew everything about different countries, from Alaska till Argentina. He decided to come to Paraguay and live here because it is safe and relaxed.
Why the name is ‘OttomanoCafé’
The name Ottomano is well choosen. Coffee was discovered in Ethiopia in the 14th century. It was the period of the Ottoman empire created by the Turkish tribes that grew to be the one of the most powerful states in the world until the early 20th century. It ruled much of the middle east, north Africa and eastern Europe. Ethiopia was also a part of this Turkish empire in the period of Ottoman coffee got discovered.
The coffee is specially selected, to make sure it has what is necessary for Turkish coffee. It can not be made from regular coffee. The coffee beans that OttomanoCafe use are coming from Türkiye itself and also Ethiopia, Bolivia and Brazil.
The prices are between 20.000gs and 25.000gs for a cup of Turkish coffee, so absolute affordable. In case you become a fan of this coffee, you can also buy the coffee beans to make it yourself at home.
For the ones that are curious about what the future will be like, every day in the afternoon there will be a person present that is able to read your coffee. And just in case she is not there or you come in the morning: the coffee can also be read by the app KAAVE. The host will explain and help you with that.
Beside the coffees there is also traditional tea available, that will be served in a special Turkish teacup. Like the coffee, this tea has a stronger taste. But if you just want to see this cafeteria to get the feeling to be in Türkiye, regular coffees like cappuccinio (warm or old) and cold drinks are also on the menu.
The cafeteria just opened six months ago but the brothers already have bigger plans for the nearby future. In December they will open a factory where they will make original Turkish coffee but not only for that, also for Türkiye’s tea, delights and chocolates. Special machines are coming from Türkiye to make everything.
“We don’t just want to make Turkish coffee, we want to make the best one. And we want to export it to the whole of South America”.
The coffee will be offered in beans and grinded packets with a high quality beans mixed from Ethiopia, Salvador, Brazil and Colombia. The brothers are already selling some coffee in the cafeteria and online. You can check their website to buy the OttermanoCafe coffee online.
With all passion, he is talking about the factory and future plans. The cafeteria is open 7 days a week. And with all the work for the new factory and designs for the coffee there is not much free time. Before he loved to cook, but there is not time for that anymore. If he isn’t at the cafeteria, he is exploring to find the best quality products for their coffee and tea. And in the evenings, for now, he makes traditional Turkish treats such as the baklava’s and other sweetness at home. “We have now eight persons working here but with the factory it will be more then 30. With all together, the cafeteria, the factory, the sellings and everything that comes with that doesn’t give me much free time”.
With a smile he says: “The different between us and other people is that we live for work and others are working for living”.
OttomanoCafe is a cafeteria meant to drink and enjoy a Turkish coffee. Not in case you want to have a lunch. There are no sandwiches available, as that is not common within the Turkish culture. With the coffee or tea there can be a small Turkish sweet snack consumed with it. Like Baklave, a small sweet cake with nuts and pistachio, or Lokum, a small fruitcake. All is homemade and the taste is delicious! And for just 5.000gs it will not hurt your wallet.
So for all the coffee lovers, or others that got curious after reading this article: OttomanoCafe is the place to be to try something different and will make you feel you are in Türkiye. And of course, to experience real coffee from Türkiye right here in Asunción, visit OttomanoCafé!
Visit OttomanoCafé’s instagram page and website for more information.
