Turkish coffee is a traditional brewing method anchored deep in contemporary coffee culture. It is a pleasant drink to consume in the morning, afternoon, or evening. This coffee is a creamy, robust, tasty beverage that companions should enjoy leisurely. It is prepared with ground coffee as powder texture and sweeteners of choices in an ibrik, also known as cezve (Jez-VEY), otherwise a copper coffee pot.
In fact, Traditional Turkish coffee has been served for generations all across the Middle East and Balkans; meanwhile, the brewing process differs greatly according to each family’s ritual and location.
So, what is the most common practice to prepare Turkish coffee?
Brewing a delightful cup of Turkish coffee is a promising way to demonstrate your coffee-making expertise. Unlike the casual filter coffee, this extraordinary drink is iconic since it is made with the finest ground coffee, which infuses the raw and real savor of coffee beans.
So, before we start digging into the recipe, let’s look at a little history of traditional Turkish coffee.
Turkish Coffee History At A Glance
Coffee has been rooted in Middle Eastern culture for decades. For instance, during the Ottoman Rule, there were quite many coffee houses in Istanbul where men met and mingled. As a result, these coffee houses have promoted coffee’s reputation ever since.
Nowadays, coffee houses are located everywhere throughout Turkey, and they appear as a gathering place for elderly men. Indeed, these are not the only places where you can get this particular coffee. Every coffee shop across the nation serves Turkish coffee in its own special way. Spoiler alert: they also have various coffee types, from different roasts to different flavors; the most popular is Ottoman coffee.
Turkish coffee culture plays a significant role in marital rituals as well. Groom-to-be parents would visit the bride-to-be side to approve the couple’s marriage. While visiting, the groom’s parents anticipate the coffee made by the lady–the greater, the better. More than anything, Turkish coffee is symbolized as a means of pampering the guests or yourself. It follows that whenever we have distinguished guests, we provide coffee.
After finishing your coffee, the ritual continues. It is not a mandate, but most Turkish people value coffee reading. They read the coffee ground shapes at the bottom of the cup. You may wonder, how does that happen?
The trick is they set the plate on top of the cup, whisper a blessing, and then flip it upside down. After that, it is set aside to cool down. Sometimes, people use a golden ring to help with a faster cooling effect. Once the cup is completely cool, it is ready for the best part to happen. Next, whoever is the master in coffee reading will take the cup out and analyze its symbols. Some people would do this for pure enjoyment, while some take it seriously.
Traditional Turkish Coffee Recipe: Easy Step By Step Guides With Tips
Brewing the most delicate Turkish coffee with such a robust flavor and silky foam on top isn’t too difficult to master; you need some constant practice.
Turkish coffee is prepared in small cups with steep and wide bottoms, which hold around 2.5 oz. Besides, the coffee-to-water ratio can be different. For example, you can use a serving cup to measure the water and a teaspoon to measure the sugar. After brewing, many people love to mix it with milk and other preferable sweeteners, specifically sugar, in the brewing pot instead of the cup.
This coffee is commonly served with a glass of cold water, as the raw Turkish coffee has a very strong taste that resembles a thick and intense espresso. Therefore, drinkers always enjoy pairing their favorite Turkish treats with coffee – this is a perfect combo.
Here are the fundamental guides you need to prepare a delicious Turkish coffee recipe:
Ingredients:
- Filtered water
- Finest ground coffee
- Sugar
Instruction:
- Pour half a cup of water into the ibrik. Remember that this is not a measuring cup; use the cup you want your coffee to be inside.
- Add one teaspoon or a little more into the water, considering how intense your desire per serving is.
- Add the sugar if you want a bit of sweetness.
- Mix all the ingredients until seamlessly melt
- Place ibrik on the cook, heat it over medium setting. During heating, see if everything starts to dissolve steadily. Be watchful over this critical process as heating is very close to a small and thin ibrik. Otherwise, this subtle brewing method could burn your coffee in a second, producing an unpleasant flavor.
- When a sign of boil starts appearing, a rich, creamy, and black foam will form on top. Turn off the heating before it reaches the full boil. Then, pour a little coffee froth into the serving cup. This froth is similar to espresso crema.
- Let the coffee chill for around 15 to 20 seconds, then bring the ibrik back to heating until it almost hits a hot boiling stage.
- If you want a stronger coffee, repeat the process for the third time. At the final step, pour the coffee into your serving cup gently and carefully. Serve and enjoy right away or simply add extra milk if you like.
These are primary tips to make the most sought-after froth and texture in a Turkish coffee recipe:
- Always opt for freshly roasted coffee grounds. Remember that old coffee front froth. To make your coffee fresh for longer, keep it in airtight storage after tearing the package.
- Use filtered coffee at room temperature. Warm or hot water won’t work.
- The optimal amount of ground coffee should be a tablespoon at maximum for a cup of coffee. If you let a coffee connoisseur do the math, they will proceed with 2.5g of ground coffee for an ounce of water.
- When mixing water, coffee and sugar, do it firmly; never rush. Add a pinch of cardamom if you want a tiny bit of spice in your coffee aftertaste.
- Low to medium heat is an ideal temperature to prepare your coffee. Stir all ingredients a few times until it begins boiling, but not full boiling. Then, remove it from the heat immediately. And, once the froth starts to form, use a teaspoon to transfer the froth into your serving cup.
- Resting time is so important because it will allow the ground coffee to fall to the bottom of the ibrik before the next boiling process.
- After the brewing finishes, serve your coffee with some cold water along with some delight. You will be overwhelmed by the heavenly coffee treat duo.
How To Serve Turkish Coffee Like The Real Turkish?
Besides the coffee itself, each cup should be accompanied by a cold glass of water. This etiquette enables drinkers to refresh their taste buds before sipping the coffee. The best part is, you can serve the coffee with some cult-favorite sugary treats, such as cookies, croissants, candies, and even other authentic Turkish delights. Alternatively, you can decorate the serving method to make it look and feel like the real Turkish vibe! This is fabulous. All that said, the Turkish coffee rituals are strongly reliant on the gear, the technique used to produce it, and how it is presented.
The Ibrik Coffee Pot
The best thing about Turkish coffee is mainly about its brewer. An ibrik or a cezve is the Turkish word for a coffee pot. It is usually made of copper, but nowadays, some are made of stainless steel, ceramics, or even silver. The pot has a broad bottom with a long handle attached from the side at an upward inclination. This pot is known as a briki in Greece, where people make similar coffee. And regardless of all that, ibriks are available for various brewing sizes. You can find it from single-serve that contains a few ounces to those that do up to 12 oz. or more.
Coffee With The Right Amount of Sugar
Although sugar may seem correct for an English tea drink, Turkish coffee works keenly with sugar. If you want to be a courteous host, ask individual drinkers how much sugar they prefer in their cup; then, they will tell you accordingly. Here is how the guests do it:
- Sade: It means no sugar.
- Az sekerli: It means less sugar or less than a teaspoon.
- Orta sekerli: It means moderate sugar; a teaspoon or two is good to go.
- Sekerli: It means really sweet; several teaspoons are the best.
Turkish Coffee Cup Selection
Cup selection is an essential attribute in drinking traditional Turkish coffee. Generally, Turkish coffee cups are small, thin, and made of porcelain. This design will keep the coffee warm for a longer time. Likewise, some cups even include a copper cup holder and a lid.
One Final Note
Turkish coffee is worth all the effort it takes to brew and is regarded as one of the most powerful hospitality icons in many Middle Eastern nations. Slowly sip this sweet, creamy, and savory coffee and ponder the everlasting memoir of this splendid drink.