Coffee Lovers Flock to Ankara Festival, Celebrating Both Old and New Brews
The eighth annual Ankara Coffee Festival kicked off on Friday, drawing thousands of coffee lovers to celebrate both traditional and modern coffee cultures. The three-day event, a staple in the capital’s cultural scene, features 163 coffee brands and microroasteries, attracting nearly 15,000 attendees, according to the organizers.
The festival offers visitors the chance to sample specialty brews, explore advanced coffee-making equipment, and participate in competitions and tastings. Bilal Ekinci, founder of an Istanbul-based coffee brand, highlighted the country’s growing interest in coffee. A former civil engineer, Ekinci now runs four coffee shops and teaches barista classes. He noted that the coffee boom has spurred new businesses catering to modern preferences.
Give the gift of hope
We practice what we preach:
accurate, fearless journalism. But we can't do it alone.
- On the ground in Gaza, Syria, Israel, Egypt, Pakistan, and more
- Our program trained more than 100 journalists
- Calling out fake news and reporting real facts
- On the ground in Gaza, Syria, Israel, Egypt, Pakistan, and more
- Our program trained more than 100 journalists
- Calling out fake news and reporting real facts
Join us.
Support The Media Line. Save democracy.
While third-wave coffee shops are prominent at the event, traditional Turkish coffee, recognized as a UNESCO cultural heritage, remains a key attraction. Local businesses blend traditional methods with modern quality standards to appeal to younger consumers who often lean toward international chains.
Barista Halil Özer of Kuzgundokuz in Ankara emphasized the rise in coffee appreciation over the past 15 years. “We’re merging old methods with new quality standards,” he said, pointing to the evolving coffee culture in Turkey.
In addition to the coffee tastings, the festival offers a range of activities, including latte art demonstrations and aromatic cupping sessions, showcasing the rich and evolving coffee heritage of the country.
