The touching story behind the frequently uttered Turkish saying, “A cup of coffee commits one to forty years of friendship,” begins on the historic streets of Istanbul. It centers around a coffeehause owned by a man named Bilge Yusuf from Üsküdar, who brewed coffee at the Yemiş Pier in the Eminönü neighborhood in the year 1895. This establishment served as a meeting point for people of all beliefs and nations, where they would come not only to enjoy coffee but also to listen to the warm conversations of Bilge Yusuf.
One day, a Janissary entered the coffeehouse and looked around carefully. Among the customers inside was a Greek captain. The Janissary said to the coffeehouse owner, “Serve coffee to everyone except for this Greek captain.” The coffeehouse owner disregarded the Janissary’s request. As he served coffee to everyone else, he also prepared two extra cups of coffee and sat down with the Greek captain. This situation angered the Janissary, who asked, “Didn’t I tell you not to give it to him?” The coffeehouse owner responded, saying, ”It’s not yours, it’s my treat,” and continued his conversation with the captain.
In the year 1905, during the time of the Ottoman Empire, a Greek rebellion erupted on the island of Chios. During the rebellion, the Greeks took the people they captured and sold them in the slave market. The coffeehouse owner from Üsküdar was among these captives and was purchased by an elderly Greek.While the coffeehouse owner thought that the old Greek was going to kill himself, he noticed the compassion in the old Greek’s eyes. The elderly Greek set him free and said, “You served me a cup of coffee 40 years ago, and I have not forgotten that coffee or you.”
The Greek captain released Üsküdarlı Yusuf free and helped him return to Istanbul. It is this beautiful story that lies behind this touching proverb.
A cup of coffee not only provides warmth but also symbolizes the lasting bond of friendship, where even after 40 years, the memory of a single cup of coffee remains intact.”
