This guide will show you how to make Turkish coffee at home like a pro!
If you’ve never made Turkish coffee yourself before, you can end up with an unpalatable result. For example, if you over-heat the coffee and water, it could come out too bitter or too weak.
Instead of asking if you want Turkish coffee when you arrive at someone’s house in Turkey, the first inquiry is how you want your coffee served.
Once you’ve made your request, the person making the coffee is responsible for preparing the coffee in accordance with everyone’s sugar preferences. It’s usually the family’s smallest female member who fills this role. I’ve brewed a lot of coffee throughout the years. Because of this, I am confident in my ability to impart my expertise to you.
Table of Contents
What Is Turkish Coffee?
Turkish coffee is a type of coffee that originated from the Ottoman Empire. The name “Turkish” comes from the fact that it was originally prepared by Turks living in Anatolia (the region now known as Turkey). In fact, many Middle Eastern and European countries such as Turkey, Iran, and Greece have long used the Turkish coffee technique of preparation.
Looking for a great cup of joe without the hassle, see our Best Single Cup Coffee Makers
Blending finely ground coffee beans with water and heating the mixture to the point of frothy foaming, just below boiling, is the process that creates coffee.
Traditionally, Turkish coffee is made in a pot known as a cezve, but any small pot can do. The brew, complete with coffee grinds, is poured into cups once it has reached the desired stage. The residual liquid is absorbed by the coffee grind powder at the bottom of the cup.
DEDE Copper Cezve Solid Copper Stamped and Hammered Turkish with Wooden Handle
The amount of caffeine in a cup of unfiltered coffee is substantially higher than in a cup of filtered coffee. While Turkish coffee can be served with or without sugar, it is most commonly made with a small amount.
Turkey’s national coffee, kahve, is often spiced with cardamom.
History of Turkish Coffee
Strong Turkish coffee first appeared in the Ottoman Empire, where it was strictly prohibited as a drug under the strongest interpretations of the Quran. The sultan subsequently relaxed the ban on the beverage due to its enormous popularity.
By the mid to late 17th century, Turkish coffee culture had spread to England and France. In the middle of the 17th century, Britain’s first coffee establishment was built. Slave-served coffee in porcelain finjans on gold or silver saucers was provided during parties thrown by the Turkish envoy to France around 1680, according to historical records.
In the early 18th century, coffee houses began opening in London. By the 19th century, coffee houses were common in Europe and America.
Today, the world’s largest producer of coffee is Ethiopia. However, Turkey produces more than half of all Arabica coffee grown in the world.
Turkish Coffee – Role in Fortune Telling
A fun fact about Turkish coffee, it plays an important role in fortune telling. This practice is known as tasseography and it uses the grounds left after drinking Turkish coffee to tell the individuals fortune. When the cup is flipped upside down into the saucer to cool, the coffee grounds patterns are analyzed.
Role in Turkish Weddings
Another interesting fact about Turkish coffee, is that it plays an important role at weddings. Before the marriage, the bridegroom’s parents must visit the young girl’s family to ask the bride-to-be hand and receive the blessings from her parents on their forthcoming marriage.
Turkish coffee must be prepared and served to guests throughout this meeting. To get a sense of his character, the bride-to-be uses salt instead of sugar in his coffee. The bride-to-be assumes that the husband is patient and good-tempered if he does not show any signs of irritation while drinking his coffee.
Names and Variants of Turkish Coffee
Depending upon the part of the world you are located, there are various names and variants of Turkish coffee. Some of these include:
Armenia
Armenian households rely on this robust coffee as a staple. Because of its Eastern origins and introduction by Armenians during the island’s settlement, the coffee on Corfu is known as “eastern coffee.” Before the Armenians brought their coffee culture to Corfu, which had never been an Ottoman possession, the island did not have an established Ottoman coffee culture. Byerley’s The Reuben Percy Anecdotes claims that an Armenian opened the first European coffee shop in 1674, when coffee was only beginning to gain popularity in the Western world.
Turkish Luxury Ottoman Coffee & Espresso Set
Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia and Lithuania
In the Czech Republic and Slovakia, a drink known as turecká káva or turek is quite popular, but other methods of preparing coffee, such as espresso, have grown in popularity over the last several decades, lessening the appeal of turek.
Turek is no longer typically served in cafés, but rather in bars, kiosques, and private residences. When making Turkish coffee in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, you do not use a cezve; instead, you measure out the desired amount of ground coffee and then pour boiling or almost boiling water over it.
Learn more about coffee brewing methods, How to Use A French Press
A cezve (dezva in Czech) can also be used to make Turkish coffee, although the term “Turkish coffee” refers to the process mentioned above. In Poland and Lithuania, coffee is prepared in the same way.
Greece
It was once referred to as “Turkish” coffee in Greece. Greek coffee became popular after the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974 because of 1960s-era political tension with Turkey.
‘Turkish coffee’ became ‘Greek coffee’ by substituting one Greek term for another, while the Arabic loan-word, for which there is no Greek counterpart, remained untouched.
How to Make Turkish Coffee at Home
You can make Turkish coffee at home by following this step-by-step guide along with our helpful tips to get great tasting Turkish coffee.
Ingredients You Need:
You will need the following ingredients:
Water: Water should be filtered and and slightly chilled.
Coffee: When compared to regular coffee, Turkish coffee is significantly more finely ground. For best taste, it is favorable to grind beans for fresh coffee. You will need a quality coffee grinder to get the coffee beans fine enough for the brew. It is possible to utilize any type of coffee bean; arabica is preferred, although robusta or a combination can also be used.
If you do not want to grind, you can usually purchase it at most Middle Eastern or Mediterranean stores today. Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi is my favorite brand of Turkish coffee ground for brewing.
Cezve: Although you can substitute a small copper pot for this brewing method if needed, you will want to eventually get a Turkish coffee pot as it will give your coffee a nice thick foam on top and is the traditional tool to make this coffee.
Preparing Turkish Coffee
This recipe is for two cups of Turkish coffee.
Pour one cup (240 ml) of cold, filtered water into a small saucepan with four heaping tablespoons of finely ground coffee grinds and sugar (if preferred). Again, it is best to use fresh ground coffee beans for best results. The beans need to be finely ground. Below is a great manual grinder that works great to get a good grind for your Turkish coffee.
Turkish Greek Arabic Ground Coffee Manuel Hand Mill Grinder
Stir the mixture gently as it cooks at a moderate temperature.
Make sure to stir the ingredients a few times after the coffee has settled to the bottom of the saucepan.
The mixture should be heated to the point where a thick froth forms, just before it reaches boiling point.
Pour the coffee and into tiny glasses and top off with any remaining foam with a spoon.
Enjoy your coffee after the grinds have sunk to the bottom of the coffee cup.
Sugar and cardamom can be added to the drink if desired, although they are not required.
There you have it, how to make Turkish coffee at home that any coffee lover will enjoy!
How To Serve:
For the optimum enjoyment, I usually serve Turkish coffee with a glass of water (room-temperature). A tiny sweet delicacy such as Turkish delights, chocolate, or candies can be served beside the water.
The oldest guest in the room should always be served first. If you don’t acknowledge their age, it’s seen as a sign of disrespect.
As a result of the coffee’s heavier consistency compared to filtered varieties, most people only have one cup. Some individuals add milk or cream to their coffee, but to my knowledge, it is not traditionally served like this. If you wish to make the coffee sweet, you can add sugar as needed.
The Bottom Line
Many countries around the world appreciate Turkish coffee, which is rich and strongly caffeinated. A higher concentration of caffeine and other beneficial components can be found in unfiltered coffee, which may have numerous health benefits.
One of the best parts for coffee enthusiasts is that making Turkish coffee at home is straightforward and convenient. The process is simple and can be followed with confidence. If you’d like to try your own hand at making Turkish coffee, it’s a good idea to research the method first so that you’re well-informed and prepared for success!
I hope you like this article, please share it and if any of the information is wrong or misleading please let me know via the comments below. Also if you have any suggestion, please contact me.
FAQ’s
Where can I find Turkish Coffee cups?
Turkish Coffee Cups are a type of cup used in Turkey to drink coffee. You can use these cups to drink your favorite beverage. These cups are also known as Turkish Coffee Cups. You can buy them online or can use regular expresso cups. If you are new to brewing Turkish coffee, the Turkish coffee set below has everything you need to serve at home.
Turkish Luxury Ottoman Coffee & Espresso Set
Do I need that special pot (cezve or ibrik) to make Turkish coffee?
A traditional Turkish coffee is made by pouring boiling water over ground beans in a copper pot called a cazibe. This makes a frothy layer on top of the coffee. You can also use a saucepan or any other vessel that holds about 1/3 cup of liquid.
Is Turkish Coffee Stronger Than Espresso?
There is more caffeine in Turkish coffee and espresso than there is in normal coffee. However, comparing the two can be a little tricky. Turkish coffee per cup, which is unfiltered, has a more powerful flavor than espresso. Espresso, on the other hand, tends to be higher in caffeine. About 50 milligrams of caffeine content are found in a two-ounce cup of Turkish coffee; the same amount of espresso (a double shot) has between 58 and 185 milligrams.
What kind of coffee/roast should I buy to make Turkish Coffee?
When compared to regular coffee, Turkish coffee is significantly more finely ground. For best taste, it is favorable to grind beans for fresh coffee. It is possible to utilize any type of coffee bean; arabica is preferred, although robusta or a combination of dark and medium roasts can also be used.
If you do not want to grind, you can usually purchase it at most Middle Eastern or Mediterranean stores today. Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi is my favorite clothing brand.
How do you get that thick foam on top?
You might get different replies if you ask different people about this topic.
Do not overmix your coffee mixture once you’ve added the water, coffee and sugar (if you’re using any at all).
The mixture will come together naturally because you’re cooking it in a tiny saucepan (cezve). I know it’s hard to resist the temptation to mix it up, but do it anyway.
The thick foamy part should be in the cup by the time you pour the first drink. If not, give it a stir.
Pouring carefully will help you avoid breaking the foam in your second pour.
What if I am making Turkish coffee for multiple people with different sugar preferences?
In that scenario, you have two options.
The first option is to use different pots, but this would need the use of many cezves.
It’s also possible to begin by preparing a cup of coffee without any sugar and then add sugar to it afterward.
