It is hard to visit Turkey, a country located partially in Europe and partially in Asia, without tasting some type of traditional Turkish Dibek coffee (originally Turk kahvesi) at least once, as coffee and tea are an essential part of Turkish culture, and Turkish coffee is listed as a cultural heritage confirmed by UNESCO. There is even a local Turkish proverb saying that every cup of coffee carries 40 years of memory. Travel might be more difficult nowadays due to the coronavirus pandemics but various types of Turkish coffee, dating back to the Ottoman empire are, luckily, prepared and served all around the world.
Turkish coffee is primarily a way of preparing coffee, more than it is a type of coffee, and there are numerous types of Turkish coffee, such as Mirra, Menengic or – Dibek coffee that this article will discuss in more detail. Mirra coffee is named after the Arabic word translated as “bitter” and it is a stronger and more bitter type of Turkish coffee, while Menengic Turkish coffee doesn’t contain any caffeine as it is not made out of coffee beans but of beans of the Pistacia terebinthus tree, which grow in south-eastern Turkey.
What is Dibek coffee?
It is a method of grinding coffee. The roasted coffee is ground with special stones directly in a large cup made of wood. The coffee seeds crushed in the mortar are bigger than coffee seeds put in a coffee mill.
Origin of Dibek coffee
Turkish coffee was first discovered in Yemen, it was then brought to Syria, Kario, and Mecca, and finally to Turkey by Yemen’s Ottoman ruler Ozdemir Pasha, in the 16th century. Some sources claim Turkish coffee was originally brought from Syria and sold in Istanbul ever since the year of 1555. Dibek coffee is vver 600 year old coffee brewing method that uses freshly roasted and finely ground Arabic beans.
What are the Dibek coffee ingredients?
Dibek Coffee consists of eight ingredients: salep, roasted coffee, mastic gum, chocolate, cardamom, cream, cardamom, and additional herbs. Dibek Turkish coffee is a bit lighter and milky when it comes to color and flavor, due to it being ground in a stone mortar and by using a stone pestle. It is also cooked by using hot water rather than the usual way of heating the cold water, which makes it a bit thicker and denser. Aromas such as hazelnut, melon, vanilla, and caramel are sometimes added to sweeten the taste of the coffee.
What are the benefits of Dibek coffee?
It is often advised to drink Dibek coffee after a meal because it helps the digestion process. It is also known to reduce cholesterol, prevent bad breath in the mouth and help fight against Parkinson’s disease.
How to make Dibek coffee?
There are different types of Turkish coffee, but classic Turkish coffee is prepared by first roasting the coffee beans. Once the beans are roasted, they are placed in hand mills and ground into small particles. These coffee grounds are added to a traditional Turkish coffee pot specifically designated for making coffee, called cezve or ibrik, usually made of steel or porcelain, along with water, milk, and sugar (adding the latter two depends on the person). It 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 and evenly distributed.
What are the best Dibek coffee brands?
When it comes to Turkish coffee brands in general, since the 2000s other types of coffee also gained popularity, such as filter coffee and espresso. One of those brands is Kahve Dunyasi, founded in 2004 in Istanbul and famous for its top-quality products. The other one is Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi, which roasts, grinds, and packages Turkish coffee and is quite popular with tourists.
As for Dibek coffee brands, Harput Dibek is one of Turkey’s high quality 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 pleasure of the consumers.
When it comes to purchasing Turkish coffee, the finest brands from Turkey with the most affordable prices are available.
What are the prices of Dibek coffee?
400g of Mahmood Special Turkish Dibek Coffee can be bought in Stamboul Bazaar for $19,90. If you prefer Harput Dibek Coffee, 250g of it can be bought or ordered for $15.00, and 1000g for $42.00
As for a cup of coffee, instant coffee in Istanbul can be found for around $0,43. Depending on the type of coffee, a 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.
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.
what are the best Dibek coffee recipes?
For this recipe, you will need: 1) a dessert spoon, 2) a coffee pot and 3) a coffee cup.
When it comes to ingredients, there should be 1 dessert spoon of dibek coffee, 1 coffee cup of hot water and 1 teaspoon of granulated sugar somewhere in the kitchen.
Instructions are the following:
Pour the Dibek coffee in the coffee pot and place it on the stove. Add the cup of hot water to the mixture. Cook it for a couple of minutes (2 or 3, depending on the heat of the stove). Prepare to enjoy the Dibek coffee, because it is ready!
Dibek Turkish coffee is the world’s oldest coffee stone brewing method with a unique and unforgettable flavor, it is made of finely ground beans, it’s foamy, not filtered, stays long on the palate, and can even be used for casting fortune. But more importantly, Dibek coffee is a way of preserving and celebrating the long Turkish tradition.
You can know more about Best Turkish Coffee brands and prices here:
The Best Turkish Coffee Brands 2022
