Every month, I explore two different coffee beans in Istanbul, sometimes from around the world. Here, I share their stories, tasting notes, and brewing impressions, from fruity Ethiopian beans to deep and nutty South American roasts along with suggested coffee companions.
December 2025 Selections
In this month, two special coffee beans from the Wayta Coffee, an Mersin-based coffee shop, are featured in our monthly selection.
Colombia– El Rancho Ombligon Anaerobic
Notes: Cacao nibs, Carob, Dried fig
Variety: Ombligon
Process: Anaerobic (with thermal shock)
Brewed with: V60, Aeropress or other Filter methods
Impression: A very complex and structured cup with pronounced cacao depth, dried fruit sweetness, and fermentation-driven intensity
Colombia – Los Sauces Pink Bourbon Anaerobic
Notes: Red currant, Sour cherry, Tamarind
Variety: Pink Bourbon
Process: Anaerobic
Brewed with: V60, Aeropress or other Filter methods
Impression: A bright and vibrant cup with pronounced red fruit acidity, tamarind-like tartness, and a structured anaerobic profile.
Coffee Companions:
Books: A Brief History of Equality by Thomas Piketty
In this concise yet ambitious work, Thomas Piketty distills his broader research on inequality into an accessible historical narrative, arguing that despite repeated crises, setbacks, and episodes of violence, human societies have exhibited a long-term tendency toward greater equality. By tracing key transformations such as the expansion of capitalism, revolutions, imperialism, slavery, wars, and the development of welfare states, Piketty shows that progress has been uneven and politically contested, rather than automatic.
Nevertheless, he highlights significant advances in the distribution of income and wealth, as well as reductions in racial and gender inequalities and expanded access to education, health care, and citizenship rights. The book ultimately frames equality as the outcome of sustained political and ideological struggle, emphasizing the importance of institutional, legal, fiscal, and educational arrangements in securing lasting change, while warning against historical amnesia and intellectual fragmentation.
Articles:
Lessons for economic growth from Pedro Sánchez’s Spain, Renewal, Link
Pedro Sánchez: “Spain is an example of economic development and prosperity, La Moncloa, Link
Music: Han Sarhoş Hancı Sarhoş – Anatolian FM Link
November 2025 Selections
In this month, two special coffee beans from the Perk Up Coffee, an İzmir-based coffee shop, are featured in our monthly selection.
Colombia– Felice Medellin
Notes: Caramel & Cacao
Variety: Bourbon, Caturra
Process: Washed
Brewed with: Espresso Machine
Impression: A pure expression of single shot espresso
Colombia – Huila Finca El Progreso
Notes: Jasmine, Tangerine, Rum
Variety: Bourbon, Caturra
Process: Washed Carbonic Maceration
Brewed with: V60 at 92°C
Impression: As if you’re drinking something beyond coffee
Coffee Companions:
Books: Novel 11, Book 18 by Dag Solstad
Bjørn Hansen, a respected town treasurer, turns fifty and is haunted by the sense that chance has dictated his life. Years ago, he left his family for a lover and a new life in a provincial town, only for that relationship to fade as well. Alone and disillusioned, he devises a daring plan to upend his existence, aided by the enigmatic Dr. Schiøtz.
When his estranged son suddenly reappears, Bjørn’s life grows more tangled, yet his urge to gamble with reality drives him to Vilnius, where illusion and truth blur. Dag Solstad’s Novel 11, Book 18, winner of the Norwegian Critics Prize, is a sharp existential portrait of risk, meaning, and midlife reckoning.
Articles:
Figure Partners with Nvidia to Accelerate Robot Deployment, Technology Magazine, Link
Tame Impala says Turkish musician Baris Manco inspired new album ‘Deadbeat’, Türkiye Today, Link
Music: Tame Impale – Deadbeat Link
October 2025 Selections
In October, two special coffee beans from the Coffee Department, an Istanbul-based coffee shop, are featured in our monthly selection
Ethiopia – Aricha
Notes: Lemonade, clove, green tea
Variety: Heirloom G1
Process: Natural
Brewed with: V60 using 92°C water
Impression: Bright acidity with a smooth and refreshing finish
Brazil – Jaguara
Notes: Fresh hazelnut, dulce de leche, milk chocolate
Variety: Yellow Bourbon
Process: Natural
Brewed with: V60 at 92°C or espresso machine for a rich, balanced espresso
Impression: Round body, mild acidity, and comforting sweetness
Coffee Companions:
Books: T Singer by Dag Solstad
T Singer opens with thirty-four-year-old Singer, a recent library school graduate, traveling by train from Oslo to the small town of Notodden in Norway’s mountainous Telemark region. His intention is to start a deliberately anonymous life as a librarian. However, Singer unexpectedly falls in love with Merete Saethre, a ceramicist with a young daughter from a previous relationship. After several years together, their relationship nears its end, but a car accident triggers a profound shift in Singer’s life.
The novel’s narrator emphasizes that this is not a happy story. Still, as with all of Dag Solstad’s works, the writing blends humor and darkness in a memorable way. Overall, T Singer represents a more explicitly existential turn compared to Solstad’s earlier works.