Brewing Guides

How To Make Turkish Coffee & What Exactly Is It?

Making Turkish coffee at home is possible with our handy guide. Across the world, Turkish coffee is one of the most popular, and the amount of work that goes into making it leaves it nothing short of special. Wherever you are in the world, you can master how to make Turkish coffee. 

There are simply a couple of things you need to get right first; your preparation and the right technique. You’ll need super fine Turkish coffee grounds in your culinary arsenal. There are several rushed guides out there on how to cook Turkish coffee, but we’ll take you through everything you need to know from start to finish.

What is a Turkish Coffee?

Turkish coffee stems from the Arabica bean, which has been reduced to a very fine grind. The strong taste of it leaves you wondering what is in Turkish coffee that is not in the other variations. The method of preparing Turkish coffee is unique and takes so much effort from you, either as a barista, or you want to make it from home. Either way, it is worth the trouble.

In the year 1555, a couple of Syrian traders brought coffee to Istanbul. Following this was the 17th century when the drink had risen to be a major part of elaborate festivities and parties in the Ottoman Court. As of this time, the coffee was served especially to the sultan by his special team of coffee makers. Making this coffee at that time requires special training, which they subjected interested women to. 

In no time, Turkish coffee-making skills became a criterion that most men look forward to in the woman they want as a wife. The tradition continues till today in the country, which will most likely leave you asking what is Turkish coffee to it’s lovers? It is the go-to strong yet rich brew of coffee. 

How to Drink Turkish Coffee

There is a unique process on how to serve Turkish coffee, and as simple as it is, it makes it special. Serving Turkish coffee rightly is when it goes alongside the water. Doing this is not a mistake, as the water has its purpose in affording the drinker a wholesome Turkish coffee experience. By taking sips of water, you can clear your palate, before following up with the Turkish coffee. 

There is no other trick on how to drink Turkish coffee; you repeat this water and coffee sips alternatively till you are done drinking. Drinking Turkish coffee is simply art, and if you follow through with this ritual, you are bound to have the best coffee experience ever. 

What are the Best Beans for Turkish Coffee

The best beans for Turkish coffee are all dependent on your opinion. However, if you are looking to keep the tradition, the best option would be to go for the traditional Arabica beans it all started with. The brewing will, if you do it perfectly, will afford you the experience the inventors had in 1555. 

Though the Arabica beans come off as costly, and to reduce cost, most Turkish coffee grounds have Robusta beans in the mix. 

Whatever type of beans that may be in the mix, one thing is sure, the appropriate ground level of the beans is fixed. You need to ensure that you do it to the finest possible level, where it is more like dust or powder. Attaining this brings out the best of the final cup you sip. 

How Much Caffeine in Turkish Coffee

The common question is, ‘how strong is Turkish coffee?’ Turkish coffee comes with a special characteristic strong taste and is very rich. However, when compared to an espresso, it still falls a little short. Turkish coffee is strong and has about 65mg of caffeine in one cup, which contains two ounces. On the other hand, an espresso cup has only one ounce, which contains about 30 – 50mg. 

But since what you can easily measure when it comes to strength is relative to each cup you take, it is safe to say that a cup of Turkish coffee is stronger than a cup of espresso. 

How to Make Turkish Coffee

How to prepare Turkish coffee varies, by different individuals, and in different parts of the world. The best way to make Turkish coffee is with an ibrik, but you can also make it without an ibrik. 

  • Firstly, you need to add some water to the ibrik. Make sure the water is measured at 50 millimeters for each cup of coffee you want.
  • Follow up on this with the addition of some sugar, and stir. 
  • Boil the mix, and when you remove it from the heat, add a teaspoon of coffee for each cup you would love to make. 
  • Boil this coffee mix again. 
  • Alright the ibrik from the heat, once it starts boiling. Decant the foam and mix it thoroughly. 
  • Boil the coffee again, twice. Between this successive boiling, make sure you remove the ibrik from the heat. At this stage, you may decant the foam at will, but make sure you stir thoroughly.
  • Let it sleep for some minutes, as this would allow the remaining powder to settle. Follow this up with the addition of a tablespoon of cold water when you are done boiling. This accelerates the sleeping process. 

This is the standard process on how to brew Turkish coffee. However, the same result can also be achieved without an ibrik. 

What is an ibrik?

Knowing the best way to use Turkish coffee pot depends on knowing what importance it signifies. An ibrik is a container that features a spout with the main function of storing and pouring liquid. In most cases, it is used for coffee. 

For a long time, brewers didn’t know how to use a Turkish coffee pot – ibrik – in making the coffee art they love. But just about a decade ago, this changed, as some professionals got interested in it again. It’s signifance to the art of Turkish coffee making cannot be overemphasized. However, as said earlier, you can always do without it. 

How to Make Turkish Coffee Without an Ibrik

Using the ibrik is the standard way to make Turkish coffee. However, you can master how to make Turkish coffee in a saucepan, or with other utensils you may have. How to make Turkish coffee without an ibrik is made possible with any utensil that can withstand heat, and can be easily removed. The process is the same as described above with the ibrik. Replace the ibrik with a saucepan or pot, and repeat the boiling and stirring processes described above.

Now you know how to make a Turkish Coffee, why not check out our brewing guides for more coffee content like this.

Sophie is a barista and coffee enthusiast who has owned and ran a coffee truck in her remote community since 2017. She wants to cut the jargon and make brewing coffee enjoyable for everyone.