There is no doubt that cafés hold a special place among the elements that give the town of Ahfir its unique character and wide appeal. Proof of this is that many people, even outside our region, mention Ahfir mainly in connection with the taste of its coffee.

 

Who among us can claim to have forgotten the famous Frchach café, for example? That café located in the heart of the town, whose premises later became a bank branch.

 

I remember, in my youth, going there with my neighborhood friends to play billiards, or footing as we used to call it, for 10 or 20 centimes per game. We spent hours there, enjoying every moment of this beloved pastime.

 

Sometimes, I would eagerly enjoy a cup of coffee with some sfenj prepared masterfully by the late El Mahjoub — that legendary man skilled in everything his hands created, whether sfenj or the sweets he prepared especially during Ramadan. He was a simple, upright, respectful, and exemplary man in his work.

 

It goes without saying that Ahfir’s coffee, boiled in the traditional ghellaya, has its fans and admirers throughout the entire Oriental region.

 

Many people stop in Ahfir solely to drink a cup of traditional coffee, at a price perhaps unmatched anywhere in the country.

 

This coffee undoubtedly contributes to giving our town its special identity and fills it with pride.

 

Today, traditional cafés have expanded, multiplied, and intensified their competition. Yet the local character remains strongly present and dominant. Modern cafés, on the other hand, struggle to secure a foothold.

 

Summer is a favorite season for café lovers, both residents and members of our community living abroad. The nightly gatherings seem endless.

 

There is no doubt that our cafés bring warmth, life, dynamism, and vitality to a local environment whose dominant tone, for most of the year, is one of calm and stillness.

 

Amar Belhassen (14/06/2010)