- On 15/04/2022
- In Turkish Culture
- Tags: Turkish Coffee
How to make Turkish Coffee at home ?
Traditional Turkish Coffee
Coffee is the most beloved beverage in the world, which has books written about it. In different cultures it has different effects, rituals and traditions to drink. Turkey is one of these countries who proceed with coffee beans in a different way and drinks in special pots and cups.
Why Turkish coffee is so special?
Rich and highly caffeinated, Turkish coffee is stronger than many others as it’s unfiltered and contains a higher concentration of caffeine. As it’s unfiltered, the coffee grout never completely dissolves, but this provides several health benefits when it’s consumed plain. It has derived from the Arabica beans and after a process of fine grinding, Turkish coffee becam e famous in many countries for both its strong taste and its unique method of preparation and service.
How do you make Turkish coffee at home?
Things you will need;
- A metal pot in special shape and called cezve (copper is recommended but not necessary)
- Some roasted ground coffee
- Some sugar if you prefer
The most important thing is using medium roasted, fine ground coffee. You can purchase it from shops around Spice Bazaar, shops in the streets, most supermarkets in Turkey. However, number one is Kuru Kahveci Mehmet Efendi in Spice Bazaar (also known as Egyptian Bazaar or Misir Carsisi in Turkish) .
The coffee needs to be ultra-fine, so it gives full taste to water. If you prefer grinding your coffee beans yourself, it should be powdered.
You need to fill the pot with a cup of cold water for each cup of coffee (specially designed Turkish coffee cups are recommended for it due to respectively small size, however if you don’t have it, using an espresso cup will be alright) . The water you will use doesn’t have to be too cold or boiling, mild is ok as it will need time to get the flavor of coffee and sugar.
You can add a teaspoon of sugar or a cube of sugar for each cup before putting it on fire. You need to add two teaspo
ons of coffee for each cup and let the sugar sink to the bottom with the coffee, then you can put the pot on the stove with medium heat. Wait for a minute and stir slowly with a spoon to caramelize easier.
Within three-four minutes, the coffee will start boiling. Notice the ring of foam that forming at the top. Remove the pot from the heat before it overflows to get this foam into your small cup with a spoon. This foam will make the first impression on the person who will drink, as the more foam is a sign of a better quality in Turkish coffee.
When the coffee foam rises up a second time, remove the pot and pour the coffee into the cup, kind and slowly on one side of the foam. Traditionally, it is served with a glass of water. However, you can serve with a piece of chocolate or plain Turkish delight if you prefer additional sugar.
Please remember, coffee grout is not edible, it will settle down the cup and remain for telling fortune. In our next articles we will touch on telling fortune after drinking coffee, however guests who will visit Turkey and interest with fortune-telling can ask their tour guide for it.
We, Guided Istanbul Tours, are looking forward to offering you a cup of Turkish Coffee in our office in the Old City. We may give you some information regarding our tours and services or assist in any other subject that we could help you with.