The roasters writing the coffee scene in Istanbul: who they are, where they source from and where to drink it.
The roasters writing the coffee scene in Istanbul. who they are, where they source from, and where to drink the result.
Kronotrop in Cihangir, the country's first micro-roastery, opened on a Firuzağa corner with the first La Marzocco Strada in Turkey and a tight East-African bean rotation.
Sources from: Ethiopia, Colombia, Kenya
How they serve: Espresso, Filter, Chemex, V60
Petra Roasting Co. in Nişantaşı, a third-wave roaster set inside an art gallery hung with antique Mercedes parts, brewing single-origin pour-overs to a Nişantaşı crowd.
Sources from: Ethiopia, Colombia, Guatemala, Burundi
How they serve: Espresso, Filter, Aeropress, Whole bean retail
Karabatak in Karaköy, a converted metal-workshop cafe-roastery pouring imported Julius Meinl beans alongside its own house roasts in the old port quarter below Galata.
Sources from: Brazil, Ethiopia, Colombia
How they serve: Espresso, Filter, Whole bean retail
Geyik on Akarsu Yokuşu, a Cihangir double-shift roastery doing single-origin specialty by day and a cocktail bar at night, run by Turkish barista champion Serkan İpekli.
Sources from: El Salvador, Honduras, Ethiopia
How they serve: Espresso, Filter, Cocktails
Kahve Dünyası at the Grand Bazaar's Nuruosmaniye gate, the Turkish coffee-chain flagship serving sand-brewed kahve, chocolate beans and house espresso to bazaar walkers.
Sources from: Brazil, Colombia, Ethiopia, Turkey blends
How they serve: Sand-brewed Turkish, Espresso, Whole bean retail
Mandabatmaz, the 1967 family-run Beyoğlu coffee bar in Olivya Geçidi, whose copper-cezve Turkish coffee is brewed so thick the cup is said to hold a water buffalo.
Sources from: Turkey, Brazil
How they serve: Copper cezve Turkish coffee
Peak food season in Istanbul is year-round.
Local dining hours: lunch around 12:30, dinner from 19:30.
service is typically included; small extra is welcome but not expected.
Ask the next local you meet what they would order. Istanbul rewards trust.