Are you wondering how to make Turkish coffee at home? You’ve come to the right page.
In this article, you will learn how to make the perfect Turkish coffee with our detailed instructions. We will also talk about Turkish coffee beans you can use to brew this great coffee. In the end, we have also answered the most frequently asked questions regarding Turkish coffee.
Continue reading to learn more.
What Is Turkish Coffee?
Turkish coffee is a brewing method which is used by coffee lovers in most Middle Eastern and European countries such as Iran, Turkey, and Greece. The coffee is traditionally made in a pot called ibrik or cezve– a pot with a slim neck but wide at the bottom and has a long handle.
The coffee is brewed with finely ground beans with water and then sugar (optional) is added. The mixture then sits on the pot until it starts to get foamy before boiling.
Once it is ready, the coffee is served in small cups known as finjans. Since the coffee is unfiltered, it is rich in caffeine levels although not as higher as other brewing methods.
Well, you can drink Turkish coffee without adding sugar, although it would be delicious if you add some moderate amounts of sugar. Most coffee lovers also add cardamom to their Turkish coffee.
Generally, Turkish coffee has higher caffeine content than other brewing methods because it is served unfiltered.
The coffee grinds used to brew Turkish coffee are what make the brew delicious and with this method, more flavors are extracted. Besides, the beans are re-roasted during the brewing stage.
A good rule of thumb is to add cold water plus the grounds then heat the pot slowly until it starts to foam.
You can also make Turkish coffee with milk, cream, etc. but just avoid stirring the sediments and don’t forget to add sugar during the brewing process and not after.
Well, don’t fret because it’s just a simple brewing method and in this guide, you will learn how to make Turkish coffee using our step by step instructions.
You can make Turkish coffee in different ways:
For instance:
- You can buy a Turkish grinder for grinding the beans yourself before brewing. Please avoid regular electric grinders with blades that spin fast.
- Have your beans ground at the nearest coffee shop. The good thing about most Turkish grinders is that they come with a Turkish coffee setting so you just press the Turkish setting button and the grind will do it automatically.
Or
- Order Turkish coffee at a coffee shop. Usually, you will find Turkish coffee in most Mediterranean coffee stores, especially for coffee lovers who live in a metropolitan area.
The History of Turkish Coffee
Turkish coffee is a popular type of coffee and for various reasons (here is a list of the types of coffee around the world).
Coffee is a beverage the Middle East people can’t live without. They use coffee as a drink to socialize and come together. As they drink coffee, they bond with family and friends.
Turkey has created a coffee culture that no country can beat. In Turkey, you can expect to find coffee almost everywhere you go. When in Turkey and you hear Kahvalti, don’t get confused because they use this word to mean breakfast.
Turkish coffee lovers started to consume the drink in the middle of the 16th century when the first coffee shop was opened up in Constantinople and by 1565; Turkish coffee was introduced in the island of Malta.
From then on, coffee started to spread throughout Europe.
In Turkey, coffee grounds are used to perform a fortune reading.
The Narrow Ibrik Coffee Pot with a Wide Bottom
The Ibrik is a unique pot used for brewing Turkish coffee. The Greeks call it briki.
You can get ibriks of almost all sizes from single-serving posts that store a few ounces to large ones that hold up to 12 ounces and more.
Is Turkish Coffee Stronger than Espresso?
Before we show you how to make Turkish coffee at home, let’s find out whether this popular type of coffee is stronger than Espresso.
Ideally, it would be hard to tell whether Turkish coffee is stronger than Espresso.
Well, for your information, Turkish coffee has a history dating back to the 1500s.
In fact, Turkish coffee was acknowledged by UNESCO as a part of the Turkish Cultural Heritage.
In fact, the Turkish have a prover to describe their type of coffee as “black as hell, strong as death and sweet as love”.
That’s why most people will ask whether Turkish coffee is stronger than Espresso.
To compare the strength of the two coffees, we need to consider their taste and caffeine content.
When we base our argument on taste, Turkish coffee is stronger than espresso, however, when it comes to the caffeine content, Espresso is stronger.
Another thing that brings out the difference between the two coffees, albeit being rich and flavorful is the grind sizes, the beans used, the brewing process, and brewing time.
Turkish Vs Espresso Coffee Beans
Can you use the same coffee beans to make brew Turkish and Espresso?
This will depend on your preference and the amount you wish to spend on coffee beans.
The brewing process is also different so even if you use the same coffee beans, the final taste will be different.
Besides, some types of coffee beans taste better with certain brewing methods.
Best Beans for Turkish Coffee
What are the suitable beans for Turkish coffee?
Ideally, you can use any coffee beans to brew Turkish coffee (from Brazilian coffee beans to Arabian Yemen Mocha). Nevertheless, most people use 100% Arabica coffee, especially when brewing coffee for Turkish weddings as it needs to be excellent coffee.
Note that, no matter what type of beans you choose to brew Turkish coffee, it should be a light or medium roast- we stated earlier that the grounds will be re-roasted at the brewing stage and you know how it can be if you use dark roasts.
During a traditional Turkish wedding ceremony, the bride is required to make coffee for the groom and the groom’s family to get the blessings of the bride’s parents.
Two things will be observed during the wedding: The way the bride brews the coffee and how the groom enjoys it. The groom’s family will criticize the bride’s coffee making skills during the process. If the bride’s coffee making skills are poor, the groom’s family can reject her.
That’s why 100%-Arabica beans are used to make Turkish coffee.
During the brewing process, the bride can add salt instead of sugar to know how the groom will react. If the bride adds too much salt, they say that she doesn’t love the groom or she is not interested in the marriage.
But when the groom likes the drink, then the bride is ready for marriage.
The Turkish people also use coffee for fortune telling and that’s what makes it a popular beverage there. Well, this tradition is no longer being practiced by the modern people these days, but generally, they say Turkish coffee is brewed with high-quality beans.
Turkish Coffee Roast
Light to medium-dark coffee roast is used to brew Turkish coffee. In the case of light roasts, you need to make sure the beans are high-quality. You also need to avoid strong acidic coffee beans as they will make the coffee more acidic.
Note that when it comes to coffee roasts, it also boils down to your preference because some coffee lovers will use dark roasts for both the Turkish and Espresso coffee and others will use Light Roasts to brew Turkish coffee.
To get the perfect Espresso, you need to use Italian or French Roast. If you buy K-cups or pods with a super-automatic espresso maker, you get dark roast coffee grounds.
Turkish Coffee Grind Size Vs Espresso Grind Sizes
Can you use the same grind size for Turkish coffee and Espresso?
No, you can’t because Turkish coffee is brewed with finer grind size.
Turkish Coffee Grind Size
Turkish coffee is brewed with beans that are ground fine- in powdered form. That’s why Turkish coffee is rich, flavorful, and has a strong body and aroma.
The fine grind size also enables fast extraction and makes the speeds up the dissolution of soluble solids.
The brewing process, albeit fast, Espresso is much faster. Make no mistake to use coarser grind size for Turkish coffee as this will not give you the perfect Turkish coffee.
Also, you can’t grind the beans for brewing Turkish coffee with a domestic electric grinder since it doesn’t have the force needed to crush the beans.
If you want to get the best grind size for Turkish coffee, then use a commercial or manual grinding machine.
Espresso Coffee Grind Size
Espresso is brewed with grinds that are coarser than Turkish coffee. Ideally, the grinds are finer than sugar but coarser than powder or flour.
Note that when it comes to Espresso grind size, you can’t experiment, unlike with the beans and roasts.
Remember that when it comes to Espresso, the grind size determines the extraction, for this reason, to drink consistent coffee, use the right grind size.
Coarser grind size will lead to fast dripping of espresso and the final product will be weak.
On the other hand, finer grind size will result in slow dripping hence the final product will be bitter due to over-extraction.
Turkish Coffee Taste
Turkish coffee looks dark and you may think it’s stronger than any other type of coffee you’ve ever drunk, although it isn’t. Albeit dark, Turkish coffee doesn’t contain too much caffeine. It contains more soluble solids and coffee oils.
You can sweeten Turkish coffee with sugar. If you don’t get the brewing process right, you may end up with a bitter cup of coffee. In fact, Turkish coffee tends to share similar attributes with Espresso, although this brewing method doesn’t have the brightness you can get with Espresso.
Turkish coffee is not subjected to pressure during brewing and that makes it dull but tasty.
This brewing method also has similar taste and aroma to those of French press brew, although this one is more flavorful- this is because it uses fine grinds hence more oils, sugars, and other soluble solids pass into the coffee.
Turkish coffee is also thick and strong and is said to have the highest TDS than all other brewing methods.
If properly brewed, Turkish coffee is strong and has a fuller body. It doesn’t contain more caffeine. If you heat the sediments for too long, more caffeine will dissolve into your cup and the final product will taste bitter and bad.
How to Make Turkish Coffee at Home- Detailed Instructions
Things you’ll need
- An ibrik/cezve also known as the Turkish coffee pot
- Whole beans
- Coffee grinder.
- Filtered water- do not use tap water.
- Sugar
- Turkish coffee cup, also known as finjans
You may also need a digital scale, Turkish coffee spices (cardamom, allspice, cinnamon, etc.) and a quality burr grinder.
The process
Prepare coffee
Get your freshly roasted whole bean coffee and weigh them according to your preferred coffee to water ratio.
Grind your beans finely to resemble flour or powdered sugar.
Note that in this case, we will be using a traditional ibrik or Cezve but you can make Turkish coffee in a saucepan as well.
For this reason, keep the recipe to 30 grams of coffee to 350 mL of water.
Add water
Add the desired amount of water in the Turkish coffee pot before you place it on a stove.
Add coffee
Add your preferred amount of coffee grounds to the Cezve. You can make it 1 tablespoon of coffee grounds per 3 ounces of water. The coffee grounds will float on top, don’t stir yet.
Add sugar
Now add sugar to the Cezve and stir gently until the sugar dissolves completely. It’s good to add 1 tablespoon per serving. The Turkish call it Orta sekerli, or Az sekerli meaning ½ table spoon, Sade meaning plain Turkish coffee or Cok sekerli meaning sweet Turkish coffee where you add approximately 2 tablespoons of sugar.
Lower down the heat as you stir the mixture.
Add spices
You can also add Turkish coffee spices to the Cezve if you want and stir the mixture until they absorb. Spices should be a quarter tablespoon per serving. After stirring, wait for at least 3 minutes.
You will start to see microbubbles forming on the surface of your coffee. Lower the heat again to avoid boiling your coffee which can make it have a burnt taste.
Just allow your coffee to foam but don’t boil it because that’s what makes Turkish coffee better and great.
Heat the coffee a little bit again
Heat the coffee to medium-low again and watch it starts to simmer on the sides of the brew. Stir it to dissolve any clumps.
Once the brew begins to boil and there are no sediments on the surface, take the pot out of the heat.
Let it sit and cool down
Wait for the coffee to cool down until the grounds have settled on the bottom of the pot and prepare your cups for serving.
Serve and enjoy
As you serve your coffee, keep the Cezve at a 45-degree angle to prevent grounds from entering into your cups.
Also, Turkish coffee is served with water to cleanse the pallet.
Drink Turkish coffee sip by sip.
Health Benefits of Turkish Coffee Reasons You Should Try It Now
Is Turkish coffee healthy?
Usually, people drink coffee to boost their moods and prepare them for the next day ahead.
If you love strong coffee with rich flavors then Turkish coffee can be your best beverage.
To make Turkish coffee, you add sugar and other ingredients such as cinnamon and cardamom which makes your coffee sweeter than your regular cup of joe. Well, of course, you should always limit the amount of sugar you add to your Turkish coffee always.
Nevertheless, Turkish coffee has plenty of health benefits you may not get with many other types of coffee out there and they include:
a) May protect you against certain diseases
Drinking Turkish coffee may help to keep away diabetes and heart diseases. A study conducted suggests that every cup you drink reduced the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by up to 7%. Another study suggests that drinking at least 3 to five cups of Turkish coffee a day can reduce your risk of heart disease by up to 15%.
Drinking coffee habitually is also said to reduce the risk of liver cancer, depression, and endometrial cancer among other diseases.
b) Adding cardamom makes Turkish coffee a more healthy drink
Usually, you can either add cinnamon or cardamom while brewing Turkish coffee. This albeit being a tasty spice is also beneficial to your health in many ways.
Cardamom is rich in antioxidants that can lower inflammation hence reducing the risk of chronic diseases.
Why You Should be Cautious When Drinking Turkish Coffee
Turkish coffee, albeit being beneficial to your health has potential drawbacks. Some coffee lovers will add sugar to sweeten it and can be detrimental to your health if you don’t limit the sugar.
Too much sugar has been linked to several health problems such as type 2 diabetes, obesity, just to mention a few.
A good rule of thumb to keep Turkish coffee healthy is to sweeten it without sugar.
Use sugar alternatives such as cardamom, stevia, and many others to enhance the flavor but avoid sugar if possible.
Another drawback of Turkish coffee is the caffeine content. Although Turkish coffee doesn’t contain too much caffeine, some people may experience sleep deprivation, anxiety and other issues associated with drinking caffeinated drinks.
Also, since Turkish coffee is consumed unfiltered, it may contain cafestol a component that is associated with elevated blood cholesterol levels.
Generally, all types of coffees have health benefits and drawbacks at the same time. You just need to know how to limit things and follow the right brewing process to stay safe from health problems while enjoying your favorite drink.
FAQ
What makes Turkish coffee different?
Ideally, Turkish coffee is just like any other coffee. Perhaps what makes it different is how it is brewed and the countries it originates from. Also, Turkish coffee is made unfiltered with finely ground coffee beans that resemble flour or powdered sugar.
The brew is also made in a special pot call ibrik or cezve.
Is Turkish coffee stronger than espresso?
On the basis of the taste, Turkish coffee is stronger than Espresso. However, when it comes to the strength of the caffeine content, Espresso beats Turkish coffee, albeit all being rich and flavorful.
Is Turkish coffee bad for your health?
Turkish coffee is beneficial to your health but has some potential drawbacks at the same time.
Some people sweeten it with sugar which can be detrimental to your health if not limited. The caffeine content can also be detrimental to people who are sensitive to it.
What makes Turkish coffee so special?
Turkish coffee is special in that it is brewed with finely ground coffee beans that look almost similar to powdered sugar and is served unfiltered.
Why is Turkish coffee served with water?
Water is good to keep you from the dehydration caused by caffeine. Also, water is used as a cleanser of the pallet of the drinker.
Do you need the cezve or ibrik to brew Turkish coffee?
Generally, an ibrik or cezve is a traditional pot that helps you make Turkish coffee correctly. The pot is inexpensive, small and lightweight. However, you can also make Turkish coffee without an ibrik or cezve.
Read the next question to know how to do it.
How to make Turkish coffee at home without an ibrik?
Although it is recommended to make Turkish coffee with the Turkish pot, you can still make Turkish coffee in a saucepan as long as it is heat-resistant.
Should you grind the coffee yourself?
It’s possible to grind the beans yourself and in fact, that’s how you can get the desired freshness in your cup of coffee. However, since Turkish coffee is brewed with fine grinds that aren’t easy to achieve when you grind yourself, purchasing pre-ground beans may be the best thing to do. Well, of course, you can grind yourself but you must make sure to use the right coffee grinder.
What spices can you add to your Turkish coffee?
If you prefer the natural flavor, you may choose not to add spices. But if you want to enhance the flavor of your coffee, you can add cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, vanilla powder during the brewing process. Make sure you don’t add too many spices.
Final Thoughts
Learning how to make Turkish coffee at home doesn’t have to be hectic. As long as you have the right equipment and ingredients, following this step by step guide will see you brew great Turkish coffee you will want to sip it the whole day.
Happy Brewing!!
Table of Contents
