Bosnian Coffee Maker

The little copper cup that helped save Sarajevo

A džezva, containing powdered coffee. (Robert Isenberg)

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” 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.