A Cup of Coffee: The Bosnian Tradition of Fildžan Kahve​

If you walk into a Bosnian cafe, you’ll be greeted immediately with warm smiles and the smell of freshly brewed coffee. Similarly, if you enter a Bosnian home, you’ll see friends and family sitting together at a table, laughing and sharing stories over cups of this caffeinated beverage. Ever wonder why it’s become a staple of Bosnian culture to chat over a cup of dark coffee?

The tradition of drinking coffee (kafa, kava, kahva) and socializing as it exists today in Bosnian culture emerged centuries ago when Bosnia was part of the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman occupation imbued Bosnian culture with Islamic traditions. For example, it’s typical for Bosnians to drink dark coffee with sugar cubes and Turkish delights on the side.

Traditionally, Bosnians sat on the ground and drank coffee from a low-height table called a sofra. Nowadays, Bosnians share a cup of coffee at home and in cafes, where they have lively conversations meant to evoke a sense of čejf, or satisfaction. In our busy and ever-demanding world, sometimes you just need to pause and connect with others over drinks to get back in touch with yourself!

Inspired by the traditions we grew up with, BAPA offers virtual and in-person meetings meant to emulate these close-knit, personal gatherings. Our Fildžan Kahve (cup of coffee) meetings encourage Bosnians to connect and befriend one another, discussing everything and anything, from work-related advice to what we’ve got queued up on our Netflix watch list.

You can sign up for our next virtual Fildžan Kahve gathering here: June 15th Fildžan Kahve. We’ll be discussing networking tips and opportunities, so stop by!