Since 1871, Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi has approached coffee production as an art form, passing on the skills, knowledge, experience and intricacies of the craft from father to son and from master to apprentice.
In line with our mission to introduce future generations to Turkish Coffee – Turkey’s gift to the world – Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi aims to ensure that coffee lovers enjoy superior quality with each and every sip of their coffee.
History
In the 19th century Turkish coffee beans were generally sold raw, then roasted at home and ground using hand operated coffee mills.
Mehmet Efendi took over the family business in 1871 and began roasting raw coffee beans, grinding them in mortars and selling roasted and ready-ground Turkish coffee to his customers. Soon, Tahmis Sokağı was filled with the rich aroma of freshly roasted coffee.
Thanks to Mehmet Efendi, coffee lovers were able to enjoy this convenience and he soon became known as “Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi”, or Mehmet Efendi, vendor of roasted and ground coffee.
After Mehmet Efendi’s death in 1931, the family business passed to his three sons: Hasan Selahattin Bey, Hulusi Bey and Ahmet Rıza Bey.
The family formally took “Kurukahveci” as their last name in 1934. After Mehmet Efendi passed away, his eldest son Hasan Selahattin (1897-1944) recognized the importance of the international market and resolved to become active abroad. Thus, Turkish Coffee began to be promoted abroad as well as in the domestic market.
In line with the technological developments of the time, Hulusi Bey (1904-1934) introduced mass production.
He commissioned Zühtü Başar – one of the leading architects of the period – to design an Art Deco headquarters for the company on the site of the original shop on Tahmis Sokak. This striking structure remains the company’s headquarters to this day.
In 1932, he commissioned İhap Hulusi Bey, one of the leading graphic designers of the period, to design a logo for the company. This logo remains in use today.
After the untimely death of Hulusi Bey, the company passed into the hands of Mehmet Efendi’s youngest son, Ahmet Rıza Kurukahveci. Educated abroad, Ahmet Bey was in touch with global trends and developments, which inspired him to take steps to modernise the firm and to invest in advertising.
Around this time paper bags were introduced as a new form of packaging and for the first time in Turkey, coffee began to be distributed to groceries by automobile.
The company was also promoted through posters and calendars – revolutionary advertising media for the period and Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi began to distribute coffee within the domestic market via the firm’s own fleet of automobiles. Another branch was opened on Sahne Sokak, in the neighbourhood of Galatasaray.
Today Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi is run by Mehmet Efendi’s grandchildren who took over the company after the death of Ahmet Rıza Kurukahveci. After nearly a century, Mehmet Efendi’s mortars were replaced by the latest coffee machinery. What began as a small family business on Tahmis Street in 1871 has now grown into a global brand.
As a global company that is constantly expanding within the coffee sector, Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi’s mission is to “introduce coffee lovers everywhere to the exquisite taste of Turkish Coffee and to introduce Turkish Coffee to a wide spectrum of people throughout the world without compromising quality.”
With its original technology and methods developed during the coffee production process and its investment and research into enhancing quality, Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi stands out as a unique and superior name in Turkish Coffee production. Our customers know that they can rely on consistent superior quality in every cup of our delicious Turkish Coffee.
Since 1871, Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi has been defined by a spirit of innovation and meticulous attention to detail. By merging traditional production methods with the latest technology, the company combines years of knowledge and experience with its innovative spirit to produce a special coffee with a matchless flavour. In this way, every sip of Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi coffee brings a touch a joy and delight to the lives of our customers.
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