Copper Raki Glass Coolers

An raki glass cooler is a small table vessel: you fill it with ice, then set a glass in the middle, and its job is to keep the glass and the drink in it cool at the table for a long time. The name comes from an old Turkish phrase meaning people who know how to take their pleasure, and it is also written as two words, ehl-i keyf; in product names the vessel is described by what it does, a glass cooler. It belongs to the long, slow sittings of the Turkish table. The range has single pieces and sets of two, four and six. BakırBul produces them to order through a long-term partner workshop in Kahramanmaraş, Türkiye.

What an raki glass cooler is and how it is used

Use is simple. A few pieces of ice go into the vessel first, then the glass is set into the ice, which wraps around the body of the glass. Because copper spreads cold evenly through the whole body, the vessel itself soon chills and feels cool to the touch. As the glass empties it is lifted out and refilled, while the vessel stays on the table. On lidded models the lid is used to slow the melting of the ice when there is no glass in it.

At the table it is not used on its own but one per person; a vessel goes in front of each guest. That is why the pieces are listed singly and as sets of two, four and six. Larger vessels for crushing ice and chilling in bulk sit outside this group; for those, see copper ice buckets.

Model types and sizes

The difference in weight comes straight from the sheet gauge. The 0.4 millimetre Klasik model weighs around 130 grams and feels light in the hand; the Jelli model, hammered from 0.6 millimetre sheet, reaches 380 grams and carries the cold longer because its body is heavier. The lidded model is round, while the Klasik and Jelli models have square bases. Finishes are polished copper, nickel-plated, oxidised and, on the metal model, matt black. The copper models are machine-hammered.

When choosing a set, the number of people at the table is the only guide. For a home of four, a set of four; for tables that host guests, a set of six is practical. The same model is listed singly too, so a set can grow later.

How to tell a real copper raki glass cooler

Copper does not attract a magnet; a magnet that sticks to the body points to a plated product. Weight is the second test: a copper raki glass cooler is heavier than a steel one of the same size. The third is the inside, the surface that meets ice and water. On the nickel-plated models it is tin-lined; on the others, the quotation states the interior surface in writing.

What sets the price of a copper raki glass cooler

The price is built from body size, sheet gauge and how the body is formed. As the ice chamber widens, so does the copper used. Whether the body is shaped by hand or with a die shows in the price through the labour share. Prices are quoted per order; send the models, finishes and quantities with your destination.

Tin, ice and cleaning

In an raki glass cooler the drink does not touch the copper; it stays inside the glass. The vessel does meet water, ice and now and then a drink that spills over, so the interior surface still matters. Where a piece is tin-lined, the tin wears more slowly than in other serving pieces; even so, on a set in heavy use it should be checked before two years are up, and renewed if the lining lifts and copper colour shows inside.

After use, always empty and dry the vessel; meltwater left in it marks the surface. It does not go in the dishwasher and is not used on the hob or in the oven. It can go in the freezer, but because copper gives up cold quickly, that alone does not replace the ice. For a darkened outside, use lemon sprinkled with salt or a paste of flour and vinegar; oxidised and matt black finishes do not need this, as they are dark to begin with.

Machine hammering in Kahramanmaraş

The raki glass cooler is one of the few groups in the catalogue where machine hammering dominates. The reason is the form: small and repeated. When six pieces of the same size are wanted, machine hammering keeps the pattern identical on every piece and brings the price below hand hammering. Kahramanmaraş workshops use machine hammering on serial pieces like these while still finishing work such as turning the rim and tinning by hand; the town’s copperwork, which carries a registered Turkish geographical indication, carries both together.

Venues that serve raki, and those that want the same cooler for water and ayran, will find sizes, finishes and wholesale terms in the raki glass cooler copper raki glass cooler for venues.

Frequently asked questions

What exactly does an raki glass cooler do?

It is a table vessel that is filled with ice and holds a glass in the middle, keeping the glass and the drink in it cool at the table. Because the ice wraps around the glass, the drink stays cold for a long time, which is why it belongs to long, slow sittings rather than quick service.

What is the difference between the Jelli and the Klasik model?

The Jelli model is hammered from heavier sheet and, at 380 grams, carries the cold longer. The Klasik model weighs around 130–150 grams, is lighter and sits lower in the price range. Both have square bases.

What size of set should I choose?

As many as there are people at the table. For home use at a table of four, a set of four is enough; for tables that host guests, a set of six. Sets of two and single pieces are also listed, so a set can be completed later.

Can an raki glass cooler go in the freezer?

It can; cold does not harm copper. But copper gives up cold quickly, so a vessel taken from the freezer still needs ice inside it to do its job through a meal.

Which table pieces is it used with?

It is usually used with a pitcher and glasses; for water and ayran, see copper pitchers and jugs, and for the whole table, copper serveware.