Cup Selection
Cup Selection: Characteristics of cups used for fortune reading. The ideal cup should have a white or light-colored interior, smooth walls, and a narrow rim. Patterned cups reduce readability.
Related Terms
Reading Etiquette
Rules in the coffee fortune tradition: no health diagnoses, negative news is approached carefully, and the person's privacy is respected.
Coffee Preparation
Traditional coffee preparation for fortune reading. Freshly ground Turkish coffee is slowly brewed in a cezve with cold water and optional sugar. Foam quality is important.
Coffee Fellowship
The social dimension of coffee fortune reading. Traditionally maintained among women as part of a ritual of friendship, conversation, and solidarity.
Tasseography
The general term for interpreting residue patterns (coffee grounds, tea leaves, wine sediment) inside cups, glasses, or bowls. From 'tasse' (French: cup) + 'graphia' (Greek: writing).
Turkish Coffee Culture
A centuries-old tradition listed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list. Rituals of preparing, serving, drinking, and fortune reading have been shaped over centuries.
Tea Leaf Reading
Divination from loose tea leaf residue. Works on similar principles to coffee reading but is more common in British and Chinese traditions.