Howdy! This is a post for all those who love to start, end, and fill in the gaps of their day with that sweet and bitter drink that perks us all up, coffee! Just a day walking around Cyprus and you will quickly see that coffee is available just about everywhere, but the coffee places you’ll see filling in the gaps between mini marts and kabab shops are rarely the cappuccino and latte menus were familiar with in the States. Here, the national drink of choice is Cyprus coffee. One of the first things I did when getting settled in Larnaca was go out and try one of these strong, dark drinks. I also knew when on the Northern side of the island I most certainly wanted to try a fresh brewed Turkish coffee. I accomplished both with ease, but to my surprise I could not tell the difference. Lo! I thought, Despite working in a coffee shop at home I have failed to tell these brews apart! But to my ignorant surprise upon a little digging, I found these coffees share nearly everything in common, all but their name, which did not come about until the split of the island itself in 1974. In fact, Cyprus and Turkish coffee share the same brewing process, both involving boiling a very finely ground bean repeatedly in a copper vessel, and being served in a small cup, which is slightly different than a traditional espresso cup to help keep some of thick sludge (not to be drunk) at the bottom. By some the remaining grounds are used to read fortunes. There are a few different ways to order your Cyprus coffee and you will likely be asked if you take your drink sweet, not so sweet, or without sugar. Cyprus coffee is meant to be sipped slowly and cafes will usually have at least a few chairs set out front. This is important because that coffee shop is where locals take time to gather, chat, gossip and both learn and spread news. You might notice, however, that most of the locals you see sipping at their brews are men. Coffee was introduced to Cyprus in the 1600s and coffee shops, known as kafenes, were and largely remain a male centered domain. This has of course changed as tourism has grown on the island and women’s rights have improved, however, you will still notice that it is men who are seated in the plastic chairs lining the sides of kafenes and women are largely far and few in between. If you want to blend truly blend in with the local crowd in Cyprus, grab yourself a Cyprus coffee, a cigarette, and enjoy the company of the local kafenes cat. I would totally recommend this drink in the early morning or as an evening dessert followed by a cold glass of water and a walk along the beach. Hope you find lots of joy in this long-standing ritual!   

-Grace Simonsen