| By Jennifer Primrose | |
It was a warm Friday afternoon when I stopped by the Turkish Coffee Lady in Apex for my interview. Inside the small café, people came and went at a steady pace—two friends catching up over coffee in one corner, someone working quietly on a laptop in another. The smell of freshly brewed Turkish coffee filled the air.
Owners Nuriye Taskin and Elif Dilekoglu greeted every guest with genuine warmth and hospitality. They took time to explain the menu, invite people to smell the different blends, and help first-timers pick the right cup. Watching them chat and laugh with their customers, it was clear this café is about more than just coffee—it’s about making people feel at home.
When we sat down to talk, they shared how their friendship, which started in the world of real estate, led them here. “She was my customer,” Dilekoglu laughed. “I’m a real estate agent—that’s how we met. And then we became really close friends.” Their easy laughter and shared vision laid the groundwork for something bigger than just a new business.
But this café in Apex is also part of a story that started long before these two friends ever poured their first cup together. To understand that piece, I reached out to Gizem Salcigil White, the founder behind the Turkish Coffee Lady brand, who generously shared her story by email.
White, a cultural entrepreneur and self-described gastrodiplomat, believes Turkish coffee is more than just a drink. “With a 500-year-old history, Turkish coffee is the world’s first coffee brewing technique. It is a centuries-old ritual of hospitality, storytelling, and connection,” she explains. When White moved to the U.S. in 2005, she was surprised by how few people were familiar with this piece of Turkish heritage. Determined to change that, she launched the traveling Turkish Coffee Truck, which traveled across the U.S., Europe, and Canada, pouring cups and sharing stories along the way.
In 2017, White opened her first brick-and-mortar café in Alexandria, Virginia, only to lose it temporarily during the pandemic. In true entrepreneurial spirit, White reopened in 2022 and soon set her sights on sharing this cultural experience beyond Virginia’s borders.
A chance meeting during a documentary screening in North Carolina brought White together with Taskin and Dilekoglu, whose shared passion for community and culture perfectly aligned with her mission. White describes Apex as “a vibrant, welcoming town that truly reflects what Turkish Coffee Lady stands for—community, warmth, and curiosity for culture.”
Inspired by their dedication, she knew Apex was the ideal location for the first Turkish Coffee Lady café in North Carolina—and Taskin and Dilekoglu were the perfect duo to bring it to life.
In September of 2024, the Turkish Coffee Lady café officially opened its doors in Apex and has quickly become a place where coffee, conversation, and giving back blend together seamlessly. For Taskin, the café holds a deeply personal significance. “My idea was to earn the money with the coffee shop and then give it to the ones who are in need,” she said.
That mission became even more important after a devastating earthquake struck Turkey. “I was in Turkey and saw people who needed a lot. Even one penny—they need everything.”
Dilekoglu didn’t hesitate to stand beside her friend. “It touched my heart, and I’m like, you know what? I’m in for it.” Together, they built a café that feels like a warm hug—a place where culture and compassion are served alongside every cup.
Authenticity shows up in the smallest details. The café’s signature Turkish coffee is served in beautiful handmade ceramics shipped from Cappadocia, a region in Turkey known for its centuries-old pottery traditions. The artists behind these pieces visit twice a year to share new work and strengthen the café’s connection to their homeland.
Many of these unique ceramics line the café’s shelves and are available for purchase—a small way for guests to take a bit of Turkey home with them. One artist even gifted the café a special piece painted using actual coffee grounds a reminder of how deeply this place honors tradition.
The menu invites visitors to linger. Guests can order a traditional Turkish breakfast platter, fresh pastries, or simit—a chewy, sesame-sprinkled Turkish bagel. Pistachio-rich baklava is a must-try, with nuts sourced from Virginia to closely match those of Dilekoglu’s hometown, Gaziantep. Many of the sweet treats come from a local female entrepreneur near Raleigh, who supplies homemade cakes, including gluten-free and eggless options. This blend of Turkish tradition and local collaboration reflects the café’s true spirit.
Of course, the coffee itself is the heart of it all. Guests can choose from unique blends, such as the Milky Zeugma—made from roasted pistachio tree seeds for a gentle, nutty flavor—or the Silky Mardin, inspired by the ancient city of Mardin, which layers pistachio, caramel, chocolate, almond, and cardamom into one smooth cup. For something classic, there’s Bold Istanbul, brewed strong and unfiltered, the way it’s been done for centuries.
But Turkish coffee isn’t just a drink—it’s a ritual. Finely ground beans are gently boiled with cold water to create a rich, unfiltered brew, usually served without milk and paired with sweet Turkish Delight candies to balance the bold taste. When the last sip is gone, the real fun begins: “It’s part of our culture,” Dilekoglu told me. “You swirl the cup, turn it upside down, and when it’s cold, you open it and see what’s inside.” Guests can even join workshops to learn how to brew coffee the traditional way—whether over hot sand, on a stovetop, or in a modern pot—and try their hand at the playful custom of reading coffee grounds. It’s not serious fortune-telling, but a lighthearted way to spark conversation and connection.
Since opening, the café has built a loyal following. And the dream is still growing. Taskin and Dilekoglu hope to host more cultural events, coffee workshops, and Turkish music nights—sharing their heritage and hospitality with even more people. White summed it up best: “Whether it’s their first visit or they’ve been many times, I want everyone to feel seen, inspired, and nourished.”
In Apex, every cup poured at the Turkish Coffee Lady is more than coffee—it’s an invitation to slow down, share stories, and carry forward a centuries-old tradition that still feels right at home.
Turkish Coffee Lady Apex
1460 Chapel Ridge Rd #170
Apex, NC 27502
