How to Brew Turkish Coffee

crazy by Editorial Staff | Updated on April 24th, 2023

If someone asks me today about the modern elixir of immortality, my prompt answer would be a cup of steaming black coffee. It doesn’t matter who you are – coffee is the energy drink that can make you feel human again after you have been through the worst and prepare you for the most grueling tasks.


The first time I had Turkish coffee was when visiting the parents of a Turkish friend from college. The experience was so gratifying that I just had to know how the delicious treat was made.

How to Brew Turkish Coffee

Since then, I have been looking for the best, original recipe for this cultural delight. After searching and experimenting for seven long months about all the ways you can brew Turkish coffee, I now consider myself an expert in the field.

In the following paragraphs, I will share everything I learned about Turkish coffee during this time. Let us begin with the recipe.

turkish coffee

What is Turkish Coffee?

Turkish Coffee is a traditional drink prepared by Turkish people that they hold equivalent to coffee. The unique feature of the coffee is how it is unfiltered. The coffee beans are ground extra fine, so they do not ruin the taste while you drink unfiltered drinks.

Turkish coffee health benefits

Turkish coffee is not just soothing as a drink but also very beneficial to your health. Among the several other benefits, some are:

  • Pain-numbing properties.
  • Decreases asthma risk.
  • Strengthens bones.
  • Helps stress release.
  • Helps clear depression.

What is the difference between Turkish Coffee and Regular Coffee?

Two things set Turkish coffee apart from any other coffee you will find in the supermarket – the grind and the roast. These two factors are the elements that are responsible for the distinct, delicious taste of an authentic Turkish tradition.

The grind

First, let’s see what’s so special about the grounds. To make a Turkish coffee mixture, a single bean is ground into 45,000 small particles! Compare this with  drip coffee or espresso, for which one bean is ground to about 100 and 3000 particles, respectively, and it is easy to understand where the difference originates.

Grinding the beans this fine allows you to get more flavor out of Turkish coffee than any other coffee. As a result, freshly brewed Turkish coffee is richer and has a more powerful kick than the espresso you picked up from  Starbucks on your way to work.

The roast

Secondly, re-roasting the coffee grounds makes a world of difference – as is evident in the case of Turkish coffee. Just like in the case of fine wine, coffee beans also offer their best for a week since they are roasted. Unfortunately, because most coffee readily available in the supermarkets is pre-roasted, we tend to miss this sweet window of time and end up with mediocre flavor.

But the recipes for brewing Turkish coffee require you to roast the beans again before preparing coffee. Since this is the only coffee brewing technique, other brews do not enjoy this exciting punch.

Arabic Coffee vs. Turkish Coffee

Many people confuse Turkish coffee with similar Middle Eastern and Arab coffee coffees. Turkish coffee is, for example, regularly confused with Greek, Arabic, and even Lebanese coffee, but it is the Arabic coffee it is most commonly mistaken for.

The reason is not merely that Arabic and Turkish coffee have a lot of similarities, but the misconception arises due to the limited geographical knowledge of many people. Arabic coffee (also, as a result, known more traditionally as a qahwa) and Turkish coffee have many differences.

Spices

The first difference between the two is spices. While the Arabic qahwa enjoys a handful of spices in the brew, such as cardamom, saffron, and even rose water. This gives the Arabic coffee an overpowering taste that many might not like.

The Beans

On the other hand, Turkish coffee is made of finely ground coffee beans, sugar (in most cases), and water. Hence, you can expect a more espresso-like taste – though not entirely. Moreover, because of the perfect blend of eastern and western elements in Turkish coffee, many like it better than the highly exotic Arabic coffee.

This shows that people are more used to having something like the simple yet great Turkish coffee than the Arabic qahwa.

Turkish Coffee vs. Old Espresso

When it comes to taste, yes – Turkish coffee is much more rich and full of flavor – stronger than espresso, if you will. This is due to the finer grind that is characteristic of Turkish coffee.

However, Turkish coffee contains much less caffeine than an espresso. Therefore, though an espresso may make you lose sleep, Turkish coffee is less likely to make that happen.

Which Coffee Beans to Choose?

Nowadays, many brands sell Turkish coffee in supermarkets that store Middle Eastern or Mediterranean delicacies. These brands have quality coffee grounds that afford you an authentic Turkish experience.

When it comes to beans, any variety can be used to make Turkish coffee. African beans especially give Turkish coffee a tasty, unique twist. Brazilian beans are another favorite among many Turkish coffee drinkers.

turkish coffee

How to Brew Turkish Coffee? – The Traditional Way

Brewing Turkish Coffee is all about precision and making it traditionally requires plenty of practice. Here is how you do it:

1. Get an Ibrik

The first things you need to brew Turkish coffee are an ibrik and exceptional Turkish coffee grounds. Also known as a cezve, an ibrik is a small, wide-bottomed Turkish coffee pot primarily used to make this delectable hot beverage.

Though technically, the coffee can be brewed in any small saucepan, using an ibrik gives the entire experience an air of originality that will otherwise lack.

2. Measure and Pour

Once you have gotten an ibrik and authentic Turkish coffee on your hands, the next thing you do is measure cold water to make coffee and pour it into the coffee pot. Take care to measure the water with the cups you will serve the coffee in rather than a standard cup. Measuring 1.5 cups for every cup of Turkish coffee that you want to make is a good ratio to start with.

3. Add Coffee and Sugar

For each cup of coffee, put in one tablespoon of coffee ground and mix it in the water. Add the sugar, if desired.

4. Heat

For the next 4-5 minutes, heat the mixture on medium heat before it comes to a boil.

Note: When I refer to “boil,” I don’t mean to boil the water completely.

If you do not have a thermometer, you can eyeball the water is ready when you see the bubble “ring” forming on the surface. That is when it’s ready. (Let’s label this as “boil”). These bubbles/foam should be very small in size.

Keep it foaming as long as you can without letting it come to a boil. Then, remove from the heat and gently stir.

Best Turkish coffee is brewed at temperatures below 160 degrees Fahrenheit (70 degrees Celsius).

The goal is to maintain the froth that forms at around 150 degrees Fahrenheit. 

The more froth, the better it will taste; if you have old coffee, it won’t foam.

5. Reheat and Pour

Fill up your serving cups halfway with the coffee. Then return the pot to heat for about half a minute and fill up the cups to the rim. Take care to pour the coffee slowly so as not to let the froth mix in or sink to the bottom. No authentic Turkish coffee is served without being topped with beautiful, dark froth.

6. Serve

Before you serve the coffee to your guests, offer them a glass of water to cleanse their pallets. This allows them to savor the flavor of the drink to the fullest.

It is customary to serve Turkish coffee with something sweet, the ever delectable Turkish delight, or a toothsome yet straightforward piece of chocolate. So, include something deliciously sweet on the tray with the coffee cup.

The best Turkish coffee experience is when the coffee is drunk from beautiful little traditional coffee cups. So if you are visiting Turkey anytime soon, remember to buy these when you buy lanterns or carpets in the bazaar.

An important thing to remember is to start with the eldest in the room when serving Turkish coffee. This is a customary way to respect the eldest person’s age and experience, honor them, and hold them in high esteem.

Making Turkish Coffee Without Ibrik

As we discussed earlier, Turkish coffee is usually made in a unique, wide-bottomed utensil called an ibrik or a cezve. However, many  coffee enthusiasts either do not have access to a place they sell ibriks or might even consider it an unnecessary expenditure.

Therefore, though we recommend getting your hands on the small copper pot, it is possible to brew Turkish coffee still even if you do not have one.

However, when you brew your Turkish coffee in any regular saucepan instead of a designated ibrik, you will not be able to enjoy the full experience of Turkish coffee. This is due to two things.

First, a regular saucepan lacks the traditional touch of an ibrik or a cezve. Hence, there will always be something lacking in your coffee this way.

Second, and more importantly, brewing coffee in a regular saucepan will not likely get you the amount of froth that an ibrik or cezve will.

We have already discussed how the foam on top of the Turkish coffee is imperial to the experience – taste, and visuals. Turkish coffee is incomplete without the froth layer at the top.

How to Drink Turkish Coffee

Turkish coffee is served without filtering the grounds from the brew. Therefore, an entire layer of coffee grounds is at the bottom of the cup. If it is your first time drinking Turkish coffee, you may not know how to deal with this sediment. This is where our expertise comes in.

Because Turkish coffee is always served with a glass of water, you may think it is there to help you swallow any sediment left in your mouth. However, this is not the case. As discussed earlier, this glass of water is there to help you cleanse your pallet of any remnants of dinner.

After dinner, do not drink it immediately when you are served the traditional delicacy. Instead, give the finely ground coffee time to settle at the bottom of your cup. Then, take your first sip when the coffee has cooled down enough not to burn your tongue or flood your mouth with sediment.

Expert Turkish coffee drinkers can drain the entire cup of coffee without getting any sediment in the mouth. So what do you do with the leftover residue?

Final thoughts

If you are a regular coffee drinker, you probably have heard of Turkish coffee before, even if you have not yet had a chance to try it. Though every person’s coffee preferences vary, Turkish coffee is something that most coffee enthusiasts would like to indulge in.

So, whether you have an Instagram full of pictures with a  pumpkin spiced lattes, or you catch an espresso every morning to work, give the Turkish treat a try and tell us how you liked it in the comments.

turkish coffee

FAQs

Is Turkish Coffee bad for My Health?

No, Turkish Coffee is anything but bad for you. Coffee is the contrary; coffee is for your health. It carries several  health benefits you can gain if you regularly drink it.

How Do You Predict Your Future Using Turkish Coffee?

After drinking the coffee, turn the cup upside down. This will cause the exceptional coffee grounds that had settled at the bottom to run down the walls of the cups in different shapes and patterns. The coffee mug can then be read. This is done by studying the patterns the streaks of sediments have left in the empty cup and guessing what is in store for the coffee drinker.

Are these Predictions True?

Many believe that the elders reading your cup can predict the future with it. But, of course, there is no scientific evidence of any such idea. But true or not, the activity is engaging and fun. So, the next time you sit with your friends to enjoy some Turkish coffee, try to enjoy it.

Will Coffee Beans make A Difference?

Of course, your coffee beans’ quality will determine your Turkish Coffee’s flavor profile. But you do not need the best coffee beans to have a good experience. Decent Turkish coffee beans are enough to give you the essence.

Can I have Turkish Coffee While on A Diet?

Yes, of course, you can. However, Turkish coffee does not have as many calories to ruin your diet. You can use light calories to fill in when you are craving a huge dessert.

How Much Sugar is Ideal?

Sugar is a personal choice. You can add sugar to your preference if you have a sweet tooth. But we should say that sugar is not a good thing.

crazy

Editorial Staff

The editorial staff at Crazy Coffee Crave is a team of coffee enthusiasts & Baristas who enjoy the one thing we all think about as soon as we get up in the morning. Trusted by thousands of readers worldwide.