We listed down the most important facts about Turkish Coffee.
Turkish Coffee Facts You Need To Know
What is Turkish coffee?
It is a traditional way of preparing coffee in Turkey by using finely ground beans, and boiling them in a specialized pot, along with water and sugar.
What is so special about Turkish coffee?
It is one of the oldest coffee brewing methods that has a strong, unique and unforgettable flavor, it is made of finely ground beans that are not filtered out but are, instead, consumed with the coffee, it is foamy, stays long on the palate, is usually served with a glass of water and some Turkish delights, and it can even be used for casting fortune. But most importantly, Turkish coffee is a symbol of the long Turkish tradition and communal bonds.
How to make Turkish coffee?
Turkish coffee is prepared by first roasting the coffee beans. Once the beans are roasted, they are placed in hand (or stone) mills and ground into powder or small particles. These coffee grounds are added to a traditional Turkish coffee pot specifically made for making coffee, called cezve or in some parts of the world ibrik, usually made of copper, steel or porcelain, along with water, milk, and sugar. Turkish coffee can be prepared plain, slightly sweet, medium sweet, or sweet. The mixture is usually boiled twice until it froths, so the coffee grounds can fully dissolve and the mixture can become foamy.
Is Turkish coffee stronger than regular coffee?
Mostly yes, it contains higher level of caffeine than instant coffee or American coffee. A regular cup of Turkish coffee has more caffeine than a regular cup of espresso, and, unlike espresso, it is unfiltered, but still not as as concentrated and dense as espresso.
The average concentration of caffeine in Turkish coffee (three-ounce serving) is 165 mg per cup, and a regular cup of brewed coffee contains an average of 95 mg per cup. A regular two-ounce shot of espresso usually has a 60–65 mg of caffeine.
What is the difference between Turkish coffee and regular coffee?
Instant coffee is a type of coffee prepared instantly by dissolving coffee powder with hot water. American coffee is made through filter brewing and often enjoyed from a cup with a plastic lid (coffee-to-go), and espresso coffee, particularly Italian coffee, is usually prepared by using high pressure and shooting hot water through coffee, and it is usually consumed in a single sip.
Turkish coffee, contains coffee grounds and is made by adding water and sugar and slowly boiling the mixture. Small coffee grounds are not filtered out of the drinks but are instead consumed with the coffee, which makes the taste a bit stronger compared to most other types of coffee, and the caffeine level is higher.
Turkish coffee is the only type of coffee prepared by boiling the mixture on an oven until it froths, and adding the sugar before the boiling process.
What are the different types of Turkish coffee?
The different types of Turkish coffee are:
- regular Turkish coffee, usually consumed on a daily basis;
- Mirra coffee, a stronger and more bitter type of Turkish coffee, commonly prepared in the south-eastern part of Turkey, its name stems from the Arabic word mur, meaning bitter;
- Dibek coffee, a lighter and more milky type of coffee ground in a stone mortar and by using a stone pestle, and cooked by using hot water rather than the usual way of heating the cold water, which makes it thicker and more concentrated, and it consists of ingredients such as salep, roasted coffee, mastic gum, chocolate, cardamom, cream, cardamom, and additional herbs
- Menengic coffee, that is not made of coffee beans but of beans of the Pistacia terebinthus tree, which grow in south-eastern Turkey. Menengic is as dry as regular Turkish coffee, but it doesn’t contain any caffeine, it is slightly more fruity and has more health benefits
Also, there is more than one way to cook Turkish coffee: it can be prepared on ashes, coals, or sand, or on an open stove when it comes to cooking at home.
What are Turkish coffee sets?
Turkish set is the traditional set in which the Turkish coffee is served. It involves a traditional tray, a specialized pot called cezve, a standard size Turkish cups called finjan, and some Turkish delights such as rahat lokum (or simply called lokum) or chocolate, and a glass of water that will make it easier for the person to clear their palate before drinking the coffee. Some people tend to turn the cup upside down on the small plate once they finish drinking their coffee, this method is called fal, it is a type of fortune-telling or a fun activity, and it is done based on the marks and shapes the coffee grounds leave inside the cup.
How much does coffee cost in Turkey?
The most popular type of coffee to purchase at the local Turkish shops is Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi, which is around $0,87 for a 100g package.
400g of Mahmood Special Turkish Dibek Coffee can be bought in Stamboul Bazaar or online for $19,90. 250g of Harput Dibek Coffee can be bought or ordered for $15.00, and 1000g for $42.00.
How much is a cup of coffee in Turkey?
A cup of instant coffee in Istanbul can be found for around $0,43. Depending on the type of coffee and the coffee house, a cup of coffee generally costs somewhere between 6 and 15 lira ($0,87 – $2,17), and a cappuccino is somewhere between $1,75 and $2,05.
What are the best Turkish coffee brands?
Kahve Dunyasi is a brand in Istanbul that exists since 2004 and is famous for its top-quality products. The other one is Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi, which roasts, grinds, and packages Turkish coffee by combining traditional and modern elements of Turkish coffee. As for Dibek coffee brands, Harput Dibek is one of Turkey’s best Turkish Coffee producer and the coffee beans are crushed in a big muddle called Dibek. The coffee is made from hand-picked arabica beans packaged specially for the enjoyment of the consumers.
More about the coffee brands and prices can be found here: https://kahve.wiki/best-turkish-coffee-brands/
