Why do they count a fortune on leftover coffee in Turkey and what can you tell from a cup?
In Turkey, after a cup of coffee, you can not only discuss the latest news, but also try to look into the future. Fortune-telling with leftover coffee (hon kafeı) remains a popular tradition, especially during friendly gatherings.
Coffee spread to the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century, and Istanbul quickly acquired coffeehouses that became places to socialize and discuss the news. Over time, various customs developed around the drink, including divination based on the remaining territories.
After drinking the coffee, turn the cup over on a saucer and allow the ground to cool. Then they pick it up and check the patterns on the walls.
According to popular interpretations, the bird portends good news, the road means travel or change, the heart means love, and the fish means good luck and prosperity. Moreover, different fortune tellers can explain the same drawing in their own way.
The Turks even have a saying: "Don't trust fortune telling, but don't be left without it" (Don't believe in luck, falsız kalma).
Vestnik Caucasus.