The little copper cup that helped save Sarajevo
A treasured possession is this džezva, a little vessel with a handle that functions as both coffee maker and serving container. These are beloved in Bosnia-Herzegovina and an essential part of Sarajevo kitchens and cafés.
Notes & Addenda
- Finely ground coffee is often described as “Turkish-style,” given its prominence in Turkey and continued use across former Ottoman territories.
- The Serbo-Croatian džezva comes from Turkish cezve. The Greek word cited above is μπρίκι (ibriki), but it’s often shortened to (the frankly more adorable) briki.
- The “Zermatt” carabiner cup had nothing to do with the Balkans trip; it was a gift from your parents, after a much more recent visit to Switzerland. It happened to be a small metal tchotchke designed for coffee—and they kinda match, don’t they?
- To read more about this journey, check out The Archipelago: A Balkan Passage.
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