TIL the 500-year-old tradition of Turkish coffee reading (kahve falı) started in the Ottoman harem not just as magic, but as a clever social loophole. Women used the “fortunes” in the cups as a safe excuse to gossip, vent, and talk about taboo subjects without getting in trouble.
Why does anyone think gossip and witchcraft got such bad reputations?
Women used gossip to keep each other informed and safe.
You might have meant to link a different article. All it says on the subject is:
The grounds left in the empty cup are often used to tell a person’s fortune.
That’s probably because it’s a repost of a reddit slop account. Link if you’re feeling brave and indignant.
It also says that coffee drinking is a means to socialize, but not with any context around fortunes or a backchannel to avoid patriarchy – maybe a misunderstanding?
An invitation for coffee among friends provides an opportunity for intimate talk and the sharing of daily concerns.
