Fincan's AI can analyse the coffee grounds in your photo and recognise 200+ different symbols. However, the quality of your photo is critical for getting the most accurate and detailed reading. In this guide, we cover every step in detail, from coffee preparation to photography.
Why Does the Right Photo Matter?
Fincan's AI engine uses image recognition technology to analyse the patterns created by coffee grounds. A clear, well-lit photo taken from the right angle allows the AI to detect more of the 250+ symbols accurately. Blurry, dark, or poorly angled photos can cause symbols to be missed or misinterpreted.
Right photo = more symbol detection = richer, more detailed fortune reading.
Step 1: Prepare the Coffee
Everything starts with properly brewed Turkish coffee. The ideal coffee preparation for fortune reading:
- Finely ground Turkish coffee -- filter or espresso coffee does not leave grounds
- Brew with a cezve (ibrik) using the traditional method
- 1 cup of water + 1 teaspoon of coffee per person (sugar to taste)
- Cook on low heat without stirring and wait for the foam to rise
- Remove from heat when foam rises -- do not let it boil
- Distribute the foam into cups first, then pour the coffee
📌 Why Turkish Coffee?
Filter coffee, espresso, or instant coffee do not leave grounds, making them unsuitable for fortune reading. Finely ground, unfiltered coffee brewed in the Turkish, Greek, or Arabic style is required. These coffees leave residue on the bottom and sides of the cup, creating the surface for symbol formation.
Step 2: Drink and Flip Correctly
How you drink and flip the cup directly affects the quality of the shapes that form:
- Set your intention: The Fincan app has 4 categories -- Love, Career, Health, or General. Think about your intention while drinking.
- Drink from the same side: Always sip from the same edge for even grounds distribution.
- Leave the last sip: Leave about one sip's worth of coffee at the bottom.
- Swirl: Place the saucer on top and make a few clockwise horizontal circles to spread the grounds across the inner surface.
- Flip: In one swift motion, turn the cup upside down onto the saucer.
- Coin: Optionally place a coin on the bottom -- tradition says it helps wishes come true.
- Wait 10-15 minutes: Let the cup cool and the grounds dry. This time is critical for symbol formation.
Patience is the key to a good reading. If you open the cup too early, the grounds will run and symbols won't form.
Step 3: Lighting
The factor that most affects photo quality is lighting. With the right light, symbols are clearly visible; with wrong light, shadows and glare hide the symbols.
- Use natural light: Shooting near a window in daylight gives the best results
- Avoid harsh shadows: Prefer indirect, soft light rather than direct sunlight
- Don't use backlighting: The light source should be behind or beside you, not behind the cup
- Don't use flash: Flash creates glare on the cup's white interior, erasing ground details
- Overcast days are ideal: Soft, even natural light on cloudy days produces shadow-free, clear shots
💡 Pro Tip: Diffuser Effect
In harsh lighting conditions, hold a thin white napkin or tissue between the light source and the cup to create a natural diffuser effect. This softens the light, making the fine ground details on the cup's inner surface more visible.
Step 4: Angle and Framing
The right angle ensures all symbols inside the cup are visible. Fincan's AI can recognise 200+ different symbols -- but it needs to see the entire inner surface clearly.
- Bird's-eye view (overhead): Position your phone directly above the cup and shoot straight down. This angle captures the most symbols and improves AI analysis accuracy.
- 45-degree alternative: If the bottom is too dark from overhead, try a slight 45-degree angle. Note that the opposite side will be partially hidden.
- Fill the frame: The cup should occupy at least 70-80% of the photo. Too-distant shots lose detail.
- Watch for phone shadow: When shooting overhead, your phone may cast a shadow. Shift slightly to the side or away from the light source.
- Place cup on a flat surface: Don't hold it in your hand. Shoot on a stable table. Motion blur eliminates symbol details.
- Keep the background simple: Patterned tablecloths or busy backgrounds can make cup edge detection harder. A plain-coloured surface is ideal.
📱 Fincan App's Camera Guidance
The Fincan app provides real-time guidance on the camera screen. The app detects the cup's position and helps you capture the right angle and distance with automatic shooting assistance. Even without knowing these technical details, the app will guide you.
Step 5: Phone Settings
A few simple adjustments can dramatically improve photo quality:
- Tap to focus: Tap on the cup's interior in your phone camera to lock focus and exposure
- Use AE/AF Lock: On iPhone, long-press to lock focus and exposure; settings won't change when you move your hand
- Don't use digital zoom: Digital zoom reduces quality; physically move closer instead
- Macro mode (if available): iPhone 13 Pro and later models have macro mode for excellent close-up detail
- Shoot steady: At macro distance, even the slightest shake causes blur. Rest your elbows on the table or hold your breath
- Try turning off HDR: HDR can sometimes flatten ground tones; you may get better contrast with it off
Top 10 Most Common Mistakes
- Opening the cup too early: Grounds haven't dried, causing patterns to run. Wait at least 10 minutes.
- Shooting in the dark: Insufficient light makes AI symbol recognition difficult. Always use a well-lit environment.
- Using flash: Flash creates glare on the white interior, making ground details invisible.
- Shooting from too far: If the cup is small in the frame, details are lost. Shoot close-up, fill the frame.
- Shooting at an angle: Side angles hide the bottom and far edge. Prefer overhead.
- Using digital zoom: Enlarges pixels and reduces quality. Move closer physically.
- Shaky hands: Blurry photos make symbol detection impossible. Stabilise your phone.
- Wet grounds: Grounds that haven't dried yet run and don't form clear symbols. Wait patiently.
- Wrong coffee type: Espresso, filter, or instant coffee don't leave grounds. Use Turkish/Greek/Arabic coffee only.
- Flipping again: Opening the cup, not liking it, and flipping again destroys symbols. The first opening is the correct one.
Getting a Reading with the Fincan App
Once your photo is ready, using the Fincan app is straightforward:
- Open Fincan and tap "Get Reading" on the home screen
- Choose your intention: Love, Career, Health, or General -- AI personalises based on your choice
- Take a photo: Use the in-app camera or upload from your gallery
- Wait for AI analysis: AI recognises and interprets symbols. Premium users get instant results
- Read your fortune: See detected symbols, overall interpretation, and personalised messages
- Ask follow-up questions: Chat with AI about your reading (Premium: 3 questions/reading, Free: with beans)
- Save and share: Save to your history, add journal notes, or share on the social feed
📌 Premium vs Free
Free: 3 readings, ads, limited history, follow-up questions require beans.
Premium: Unlimited readings, instant results, ad-free, full history, map, 3 follow-up questions per reading.
FAQ
Can I upload an old photo from my gallery?
Yes, the Fincan app supports gallery upload. However, the photo should be well-lit and clear for best results. Previously taken photos can also be analysed.
Do I need to photograph the saucer too?
No. A photo of the cup's interior is sufficient for the Fincan app. The AI analyses the coffee grounds inside the cup.
Can there be multiple cups in the photo?
Take a photo of one cup only per reading. Multiple cups may cause confusion. Each person should photograph their own cup separately.
Can I use tea leaves instead of coffee?
The Fincan app is optimised for Turkish coffee grounds. Tea leaves create different patterns and may not give accurate results. Use Turkish, Greek, or Arabic-style coffee for the best experience.
How long should the cup cool?
Wait at least 10-15 minutes after flipping. This time is necessary for the grounds to dry and form clear symbols. For more details, see our Turkish coffee fortune guide.
Download Fincan for Free
Discover the coffee cup reading experience with AI that recognises 250+ symbols.
