‘Šabanova Kahva’ (Coffee House) Opened 420 Years Ago on Bendbaša

“The people of Sarajevo have not only changed the way of drinking coffee, but they have changed its preparation as well. Accordingly, rather than calling it Turkish, Bosnians called the coffee “Bosnian coffee”. However, it is important to note that there are substantial differences in the way of preparation and taste between two types of coffees. The distinct way of calling only happened in Bosnia Herzegovina, while all other Balkan countries continued preparation on the Turkish recipe. Since this was a lucrative business, a special bazaar called Tahmis was created which was located under the Emperor’s Mosque (Careva dzamija), near the Latin Bridge.

“Family Babic, who moved in the middle of the 18th century, had a house, garden and a mansion on the previously mentioned territory. Later on, they opened a café as well. In its vicinity there is a masjid of Hajji Suleiman Muftis and the entire composition at that time was highly attended. People generally visited coffee house because of the particularly advantageous view and because the whole Sarajevo could be seen”, describes Garibija.

Several years later, during the reconstruction of Miljacka riverbed, the Mevlevi Tekke, musafirhana, imaret and Mevlevi bridge disappeared in floods. On the place of Babic’s coffee shop the other was opened which worked up to the Olympics.

(Source: Radiosarajevo)