The Istanbul store and coffee roasting and packaging workshop Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi advises tourists who get lost in the Egyptian market of a city of thirteen million to search by smell. The stronger the smell of coffee, the closer “Mehmet Efendi” is. And this is in a Turkish city, where coffee drinks are sold on every corner and the aroma of coffee, which is a part of the culture and history of the country, is simply poured into the air. Another sign is the long line. In Istanbul, queues of even 5-6 people are rare, but in this one there are dozens of people standing.
Built at the end of the 19th century, the store has long since become an international company selling coffee of its brand in 50 countries around the world, but has remained just as inconspicuous in appearance, although it was here that the tradition of roasting and grinding coffee in front of the buyer before sale began, which today seems completely ordinary service.
Brand history
The company began its work at the end of the 19th century. At that time, only green coffee beans were sold throughout Turkey. People bought them and roasted them at home, just before cooking. A man named Mehmet Efendi decided to try roasting the beans himself and offer them for sale ready-to-eat (see types of roasting coffee beans). How the popular coffee company was born.
The business was continued by your sons Mehmet. By the 30s of the next century, their family received the surname Kurukahveci. By this time the company had already grown considerably. They began supplying products abroad, popularizing Turkish coffee (see Oriental coffee recipe), speaking at various exhibitions and events.
The factory is still located in its homeland - Istanbul. And the company is now managed by the fourth generation of the Efendi family.
Today, the geography of supplies includes more than 50 countries around the globe.
Interesting Facts
The company purchases coffee from Asia, Africa and America. Each variety is roasted separately, then blending technologists and tasters create blends, mixing up to seven different varieties. At the factory, unlike a store where everything is done the old fashioned way, the latest equipment is installed and the process of processing and packaging beans is 90% automated.
The roasting and grinding technologies used by coffee companies in Europe, Asia and America today were borrowed from Turkey, although coffee does not grow here.
Coffee came to the Old World from Turkey: during the siege of Vienna by Ottoman troops, soldiers exchanged the coffee supplied to them from Yemen for other products. The blockade lasted several months, during which time the Austrians learned to roast, grind and brew coffee.
In 2015, the Mehmet Efendi brand changed: Italian designer Emre Telli offered his vision of brand design to the company’s management. I liked his ideas and the visual image of Turkish coffee changed and became more modern.
Under the influence of the younger generation of Kurukahveci, the instant “Mehmet Efendi” - Black Gold was created in 2021. Until now, the brand's assortment included only ground coffee or beans. “Black Gold” is a premium product; in 2021 it began to be supplied to Germany; how soon it will appear on the market in Russia and the CIS countries is not yet known.
Raw materials and production
To make its products, the company uses Arabica and Robusta beans from different parts of the world. The procurement geography includes Africa, Brazil, Ethiopia and other countries. All raw materials are thoroughly tested and processed, and then fried using modern equipment.
What’s interesting is that in the assortment you can find unique blends in which up to seven varieties of different coffees are mixed. This allows you to achieve an unusual taste of the drink.
Mehmet Efendi Filter Coffee Series
It's with mono blends from various places. Coffee is different from each other.
- Colombian drink has a lot of acid. There are many flavors and aromas here: chocolate, caramel, fruit, etc.
- Ethiopian coffee Mehmet Efendi drinks are dense and viscous. They have floral, exotic and citrus tones.
- Asian drinks have a spicy taste. Chocolate, caramel and toasted bread aroma. They are naturally sweet and mildly acidic.
- With Guatemala, the drinks are slightly sour, with citrus and floral notes. There is also the smell of cocoa beans.
Range
When compared with other brands, Mehmet Efendi will have slightly less choice. But in any case, you will find a drink to suit your taste. The assortment includes varieties for export and classic Turkish coffee.
Turkish coffee
Characteristics:
- Composition: 100% Arabica.
- Grinding: ultra-fine (see types of coffee grinding).
In Turkey, they prefer to drink this coffee for breakfast. The drink has a pleasant sourness and a slightly noticeable taste of chocolate. In the aftertaste you will feel spice and hints of fried bread.
Ideal for cooking in a Turk.
Filter Coffee
A mixture of coffee varieties from different parts of the world. Depending on the location and growing conditions, taste qualities vary greatly. This allows you to get unique blends.
- Colombian coffee. A drink with pronounced sourness. Pleasant chocolate shade, aftertaste with fruity notes.
- Ethiopian coffee Mehmet Efendi. The coffee is viscous, with a bright floral aroma. Fruity aftertaste.
- Asiatic. A drink with a slight sourness and a taste of caramel with fried bread. Pleasant aftertaste with notes of spice.
- Guatemala. Average acidity of the finished coffee. Bright fruity taste, delicate aftertaste with floral undertones.
Press Pot
The drink has a very balanced taste and aroma. Pleasant sourness. Premium dark roasted Arabica beans are used for production.
Espresso
An excellent choice for making espresso. A unique blend that includes 7 varieties of coffee. The drink has a viscous structure. The taste combines fruity notes, chocolate and the taste of fried bread. Velvety aftertaste.
Mehmet Efendi does not produce instant coffee. The product line includes only ground and grain.
Best Turkish Coffee Brands
We have compiled a list of the most popular manufacturers. It includes the best brands of Turkish coffee and successful companies producing instant drinks.
Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi
Turkish coffee brand No. 1. The family business has been in business since 1871. If you don’t know what kind of coffee to buy in Turkey, take it - you definitely won’t go wrong. Perfect roasting, perfect grinding and proper packaging help achieve a balanced taste. The drink is strong but soft. Reviews of Mehmet Efendi coffee are always impeccable. The price of a 100-gram pack in supermarkets will be approximately 5-6 liras. Even if the name slips out of your head, the emblem (video intro) will not be confused with anything. Mehmet Efendi is considered to produce the best Turkish coffee beans.
On a note! Tourists often bring home Mehmet Efendi Turkish coffee in a can because they consider it instant. In fact, it is also ground. Mehmet Efendi does not produce instant coffee at all: only for brewing in Turks or coffee machines and grain coffee.
Keyfe Türk Kahvesi
In terms of popularity, he breathes in the back of the legendary Mehmet Efendi. One of the reasons is similar packaging. However, if you buy Keyfe Türk Kahvesi by mistake at least once, you will never want to give it up. This is an excellent ground Arabica that produces “proper” Turkish coffee. Please note the 3 packages:
- copper color - classic coffee;
- pink - with the taste of Turkish delight;
- blue - with the taste of mastic.
The price of Keyfe brand coffee in Turkish supermarkets is approximately 3.5-4 liras per hundred-gram pack.
Kahve Dunyası
Successful Turkish manufacturer of coffee and sweets. The company opened its first store in 2004 in Istanbul. It quickly gained popularity and grew, conquering local and international markets. Kahve Dünyası produces not only ground coffee, but also instant coffee, as well as other powdered drinks. Price per 100 grams is approximately 7-8 liras.
Hisar Kahve 1928
This coffee is very popular among the locals. It is classic in every way, always exceptionally fresh and of high quality, strong, and soft in taste. The company started in 1928 in Izmir with the opening of a small family store. Today it has set its sights on the world market and is one of the most respected in Turkey. Try this brand of coffee:
- classical;
- Ottoman Turkish Coffee;
- royal The Palace Series.
Price per 100 grams – from 7 liras.
Kocatepe Dibek
This Turkish coffee from Ankara is often sold in jars. Therefore, tourists sometimes mistake it for an instant drink. In fact, it is ground, with the “correct” roasting. Kocatepe Dibek's most popular product is Turkish coffee with cardamom in a brown can with oriental patterns and a bright blue stripe. The classic drink is easy to recognize by its pink packet; its price per 100 grams is approximately 4.5-5 lire. Coffee with cardamom costs about 10 liras for the same amount.
5 more proven coffee brands that are popular in Turkey:
- Cezbeli kahve . A relatively young company from Istanbul. Sells 100% finely ground Arabica beans.
- Ü lker Cafe Crown . Nothing to do with oriental coffee. But the famous Ülker chocolate factory produces instant drinks with interesting additives. Yes, it’s not the healthiest thing, and it also contains sugar, but you can try it.
- Shazel Menengiç . The company produces ground and instant coffee. It is less strong than classic Turkish drinks.
- Şekeroğlu . The brand sells instant, ground and bean Turkish coffee, as well as a variety of teas and sweet powdered drinks.
- Migros . The most famous Turkish supermarket chain, originally from Istanbul, produces products under its own brand. Coffee is one of them. Try it, it's good.
Watch our video review of prices in Turkey in the most popular supermarkets. We also lowered the prices for coffee.
Prices and purchasing
If you are on vacation in Turkey, you can bring Mehmet Efendi brand coffee from there. In our country, products can be found in specialized coffee shops and in some large hypermarkets.
Also, some items are sold in online stores.
Here is the approximate pricing policy.
- Turkish coffee Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi (100g) - 250 rubles.
- Ground coffee Mehmet Efendi 500 g - 1000 rubles.
- Coffee beans Mehmet Efendi Espresso 1 kg - 1980 rubles.
- Grain Columbia, 1 kg – 2500 rubles.
History of the Turkish brand Mehmet Efendi (Kurukahveci)
Mehmet Kurukahveci was the first to think of grinding coffee first and then selling it.
Initially, only green coffee beans were sold in Turkey. Fans of the invigorating drink roasted and ground them themselves, at home. Mehmet Kurukahveci, taking care of his customers, was the first in Istanbul to come up with the idea of selling already ground coffee. Soon there was always a line in his shop, inherited from his father. The grains were roasted over an open fire and ground in front of everyone, so consumers had no doubt about the quality and freshness of the product.
The Turkish manufacturer entered the world market in the 30s of the 20th century, and immediately conquered the Germans and British. Even during the war, Mehmet's sons obtained coffee beans on the black market, and the production of ground coffee did not stop.
Kurukahveci branded stores stock not only family brand coffee, but also various accessories
Currently, the family business is being developed by Mehmet’s grandchildren.
The company's product range includes mixtures of different varieties of Arabica in ground form and in beans. Branded stores offer not only Mehmet Efendi brand coffee, but also related products: Turks, teapots, dishes, coffee grinders, as well as oriental sweets, tea and cocoa from Turkey.
Reviews
Consumers rate this brand of coffee extremely highly. Reviews on Internet resources are mostly positive.
My parents brought me Mehmet Efendi coffee when they were on vacation in Turkey. I’m not a fan of cooking in Turkish, but taking into account the recommendations, I tried it anyway. And I was pleasantly surprised. The taste of the drink is simply amazing. Now I'm waiting for someone else to go on vacation so I can order a package.
Svetlana, Krasnodar.
“Unusual” is exactly the word that can be applied to Mehmet Efendi coffee. It all starts when you open the package. I have never seen such a fine grind before. The finished drink is both sour and bitter, and very pleasant to the taste. I don’t even know if it can be compared with anything. I really liked it.
Production
Green coffee beans are purchased from different farmers around the world. Each batch of beans is roasted. Then specialists work with them, creating blends.
Important! One package of Mehmet Efendi coffee can contain a mixture of 7 varieties of coffee cherries. Technologists use modern high-tech machines to sort, fry, and package products.
The assortment includes several product lines. There are classic Turkish coffees and varieties of world regional varieties.
Cost of Mehmet Efendi coffee
Coffee is in the middle price category. The company is constantly changing its product range.
Here are the approximate prices for popular products:
- 200-250 rubles for ground 100 g Turkish drinks;
- 550 rubles for ground drinks 250 g;
- 1 thousand rub. for ground Turkish, with 1 kg packaging;
- 1700 rub. for 1 kg Espresso with grain;
- 2500 rubles per 1 kg of grain Colombia.
Sales of Mehmet Efendi coffee are carried out by supermarkets and shops with Turkish sweets. Large selection on the Internet.
Consumer Opinions
Branded stores in Istanbul always sell these products briskly. Many tourists bring it back from vacation. Consumers rate the product 5/5.
Nikita, Moscow: “These are drinks number 1. I always bring it to my friends as souvenirs. Oriental coffee is something!”
Alena, Saratov: “At first I thought that I wouldn’t get anything good from grinding this kind of coffee. Because it seemed like dust to me. But after trying it, I realized how wrong I was. It’s so velvety, thick and delicious.”
Oksana, Kursk: “I am a coffee gourmet, so this Turkish coffee immediately attracted my attention. Good both texture and taste.”
