"Turkish Coffee Lady" Gizem Şalcıgil White, in that competition in the United States

In the best barista poll held in Alexandria, Virginia, United States, Turkish Coffee Lady, founded by Gizem Şalcıgil White—known for her efforts to promote Turkish coffee culture in the U.S.—is also competing. The local news site ALXnow announced on 2 October 2026 that a total of 14 coffee shop candidates were nominated. The contest also placed one of Turkish coffee’s representatives in the U.S. on the same list as local coffee businesses.

Vote for Alexandria’s Best Barista

In ALXnow’s Readers’ Choice poll, Turkish Coffee Lady is listed among the candidates alongside St. Elmo's Coffee Pub, Cortado Café, Misha's Coffee, and Swing's Coffee. The announcement states that the voting will last two weeks.

For those tracking the visibility of Turkish coffee in the U.S., the poll is also significant for seeing how a traditional Turkish flavor fits into the local coffee culture.

Who is Gizem Şalcıgil White?

Turkish-American entrepreneur Gizem Şalcıgil White sees Turkish coffee as more than a beverage—it is a conduit for communication between cultures. According to information shared on Turkish Coffee Lady’s website, White has been touring different countries with a Turkish coffee truck since 2012, introducing the coffee culture. With these efforts, which she calls gastronomic diplomacy, she aims to bring Turkish traditions to international audiences.

How Did the Name 'Turkish Coffee Lady' Come About?

According to White’s website, the work carried out over eight years with a nonprofit Turkish coffee truck laid the foundation of the brand. Following a story in the Washington Post, the name 'Turkish Coffee Lady' began to be used. The name later became the identity of the brand that merges Turkish coffee tradition with a modern business model.

Bringing a 500-Year-Old Coffee Tradition to America

Turkish Coffee Lady aims to promote the roughly 500-year history of Turkish coffee and its social aspect of bringing people together around a table. According to information shared by the Turkish Coffee Lady Foundation, more than 20,000 people in the U.S. and Europe first encountered Turkish coffee through the traveling coffee project. The initiative stood out as an effort to foster cultural interaction through coffee.

Turkish Coffee Experience in Alexandria

White transformed the Turkish Coffee Lady brand into a coffee business in 2017. The business, operating in Alexandria’s historic Old Town district, serves as a gathering place that introduces traditional Turkish coffee, Turkish culture, and hospitality. Coffee presentations, cultural events, and experiences linked to the Turkish coffee tradition are among the business’s standout features.

To participate in the pollclick here.

For more information about Gizem Şalcıgil White and Turkish Coffee Ladyaddressyou can visit.