#onecupofcoffee Burak DAYLAN

Designer, father of twins, bicycle and motorcycle enthusiast and coffee volunteer... There are touches of his design in everything he does. His motorcycle excitement, which started 7 years ago, is a social space where he shares the city with his followers with #istanbuluyurkengezileri. It is not known whether sipping coffee is similar to the pleasure he gets while riding a motorcycle; he shared the taste of his palate, who knows coffee from its bean, with us.

Can we say that design is a way of life?

Our job is about everything. If a person calls himself a designer instead of defining himself as an industrial product designer, interior designer, or architect, that is, without specifying his specialization, it means that he has included design in every aspect of his life.

How does it feel to be a father of twins?

Being a parent in a city like Istanbul... When I walked around with a twin stroller, I saw that Istanbul is a city far from comfort. People not giving up their seats in the elevators in shopping malls... Seeing that they get a reaction when they request it shows that we are in a sad state as humans.

I think about how poorly designed the high chair at the restaurant you went to is, how uncomfortable and even dangerous it is. You start looking at more details about things like toys, baby safety, clothes. Every parent does it, it can be more costly when you are the father of twins. When you have to buy two of everything, you are more educated. I went to trainings even before they were born to be prepared.

How did the love for Turkish Coffee begin?

It's not something I've thought about. Maybe seeing my mother and aunts constantly drinking coffee because they said, "You're like us too" inspired me. The real impetus was my own preferences. I wasn't someone who drank a lot of coffee or tea. It's not normal not to consume these as a designer, but I didn't get used to it. I would only drink coffee during extreme nighttimes and try to stay awake. I think I started drinking coffee regularly after meals for 10-15 years. I didn't see it as a habit either. Making my own coffee for the last 2-3 years was the trigger for this. I'm someone who takes a lot of photos, and the proliferation of digital cameras and the motivation of social media to share increased my interest in the subject. My cup collection, chasing after coffee, trying coffees in different places; it all turned into a hobby.

Where is the best coffee made? In a coffee pot or in a machine?

I don’t want to talk too much about it, but a detail that supported my passion for coffee was Arçelik Telve coming into my house when it first came out. I always make my own coffee in a machine, not in a cezve. Almost all of the coffee I drank was from a machine. While smoking a hookah or rolling a cigarette requires effort, it is easier to drink from a package, and I can say that a machine made it easier for me. I have also cooked it in a copper cezve, and I also use earthenware or ceramic cezve. I also try it by cooking it directly in a cup, like dibek coffee. I try new methods for different tastes and different foam ratios. I can say that the freshness of the coffee and the amount of grinding it has a big impact.

So which coffee…

Mehmet Efendi is my favorite. I think it is stronger and sharper than other coffees. I find other Turkish coffee brands to be similar and softer. A new generation of coffee shops have emerged, both roasting and selling. I sometimes buy beans from there that are close to Turkish Coffee and grind them in a grinder at home. While I normally prefer Turkish Coffee with medium or low sugar, I drink the coffee I buy plain. I can also find flavored coffees that I can drink without feeling any bitterness. Turkish Coffee is a heavily roasted coffee, and another controversial issue is our brewing time. After grinding the beans I bought, I was able to obtain a less bitter taste by keeping the brewing time short.

So, do you have a coffee cup preference?

I have a preference. It should be narrow-mouthed, wide-bottomed, and as thin as possible. The narrowness of the mouth prevents the foam from spreading too much, and the wide bottom allows it to hold the grounds. Of course, a hemisphere might be more preferable for those who like grounds. I have all kinds of cups and I use them all.

So, is there anything you say is a must?

Bitter almond liqueur... Sometimes raspberry. I'm not much of a Turkish delight fan... If it's offered, it should only be served with black coffee.
Gozde Sekercioglu