What does a snake mean in coffee grounds?

The snake is one of the oldest warning signs in the cup. It points to deceit, envy, a hidden rival or words spoken behind your back, often by someone who smiles to your face. A coiled snake is a plan or a grudge that has not shown itself yet, while a straight or moving one means the matter is about to come out into the open. Near the handle it concerns someone close, in the home or the inner circle, on the far side an outsider. Beside an eye, watch what you share.

The eye is awareness. Someone is watching, or you are about to see something you have not seen before. A clear open eye means insight, honesty and good judgment, while a clouded or half-closed one warns of deception and of details you are missing. Beside an evil eye or a hamsa it turns into protection. On its own it says to trust what you notice and not to dismiss your first impression of a situation.

The key is an opportunity, access to something new, or the solution to a problem. A clear key suggests answers are close. It may be a real key, like a new home, car or office, or a mental one: an idea that unlocks a stuck situation. Beside a door it means a way in that was closed is now open, and near the rim it arrives within days. A broken key warns of a lost chance. Two keys together are traditionally read as a choice between two openings, and a key beside a house points to a move or a new home.