Istanbul · Turkey

Kronotrop

Kronotrop roasts in Istanbul, Beyoğlu (flagship); Maslak (roastery).

Since 2012 · Çağatay Gülabioğlu

Overview

Kronotrop opened in 2012 in Cihangir, Istanbul, founded by Çağatay Gülabioğlu — Turkey's first Q Grader. Initially roasting in-house on a 1kg Toper Cafemino, the operation caught the attention of celebrated chef Mehmet Gürs (of Mikla, an Istanbul Food and Beverage Group restaurant repeatedly listed by the New York Times and Guardian among Istanbul's best). Gürs's group acquired Kronotrop a year or so later and converted his former test kitchen in Atatürk Oto Sanayi (Maslak) into the new roastery and training center. The Maslak roastery houses Turkey's only Loring S15 Falcon. The Cihangir bar runs a La Marzocco Strada espresso machine alongside a Turkish-coffee station designed in collaboration with Turgay Yıldızlı (2012 World Cezve/Ibrik Champion). Kronotrop is widely regarded as the first specialty coffee bar and roastery in Turkey.

Known for

Turkey's first specialty coffee bar and roastery (founded 2012)
Founder Çağatay Gülabioğlu — Turkey's first Q Grader (later founded Probador Colectiva in 2014)
Acquired by chef Mehmet Gürs's Istanbul Food and Beverage Group; Kronotrop now supplies all Mikla-group restaurants
Region's only Loring S15 Falcon roaster (at the Maslak roastery)
Turkish coffee station designed with 2012 World Cezve/Ibrik Champion Turgay Yıldızlı — applies Gold Cup standards to traditional Turkish coffee
Sourcing partnership with Ninety Plus (US importer)

Why it matters

Kronotrop is the founding act of Turkish third-wave coffee. Before 2012 the Istanbul scene was ibrik bars and tea-and-backgammon houses; Çağatay Gülabioğlu's 2012 launch — and the subsequent acquisition by Mehmet Gürs that gave Kronotrop a Loring and a Mikla supply contract — created the fine-dining-coffee infrastructure that nearly every Istanbul specialty bar now references.

Production

head roaster: Özgün Sarisoy
roaster machine: Loring S15 Falcon (only one in the region; replaced original 1kg Toper Cafemino)
filter equipment: Mahlkönig EK 43; Turkish coffee station (with VST refractometer for Gold Cup standards on Turkish coffee preparation)
roastery location: Atatürk Oto Sanayi Sitesi No.2, Maslak, Istanbul (former Mehmet Gürs test kitchen, converted)
espresso equipment: La Marzocco Strada EP; Mazzer Robur grinders

Café

Firuzağa Camii Sk. No.2/B, Cihangir (flagship); Büyükdere Caddesi No.27 (Maslak Orjin); Topağacı; plus additional branches

Recognitions

First specialty coffee bar and roastery in Turkey (industry consensus, 2012)
Turgay Yıldızlı — 2012 World Cezve/Ibrik Champion (collaborator on Turkish coffee program)

Sources

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