Coffee

Better known as Turkish coffee (türk kahvesi) because of the spread of the method of preparation through the Ottoman Empire, coffee is in the Middle East synonymous with conviviality and socialization. Because it is an integral part of the way of life, a kind of pride, coffee is served on all kinds of occasions, from pre-marital proposal meetings to funeral rituals to everyday friendly encounters. It is customary to ask guests how they prefer coffee - pure or sugar-free (sada), medium or low sugar (wasat) or sweet (helwé) - and if necessary make several coffeemakers, sweetened differently.