Coffee

For you coffee lovers, both Jordan and Egypt have a very strong coffee culture. There seems to be small coffee shops always available wherever we were. Even along the road as we traveled.

These neighborhood gathering places seem to be an important part of the fabric of life. There was a time when these community gathering places were outlawed due to the fear of political unrest.

The Arabica coffee bean seems to be the most common and usually roasted either medium or dark. The coffee at breakfast in our hotels has been very good, rich in flavor and not bitter. Due to the schedule so far I have not stopped in to any of the local shops.

A common brew follows the Turkish style. Water, a little sugar, finely ground freshly roasted beans, and cardamom are boiled for several minutes. It’s is then poured into the cup through a strainer.

When we were in the home of a local family in Jordan, they provided coffee when we first arrived. It was prepared in the Turkish style and served in small cups. Very good! They explained how to hold the cup in a specific way if you wanted a refill.