Turkish Coffee
Turkish Coffee Isn't a Type of Bean, It's a Ritual
Get to know the world's oldest coffee brewing method.
Turkish coffee is an ancient tradition.
The coffee has a 500 year history. It's not a simple drink, but it's a lifestyle. It's the world's oldest coffee brewing method, invented in the 16th century [during the Ottoman Empire]. And it's not a coffee bean type, it is a method and preparation."
Since you'll be consuming the beans (which sink to the bottom of the cup), the coffee must be very finely ground, even finer than espresso–– the result is less concentrated. Turkish coffee is prepared with more water than its Italian counterpart and is meant to be sipped rather than drunk quickly like a shot. There is also a tradition of reading the grinds at the bottom of the cup to tell fortunes, known as tasseography. Turkish coffee cups are small, similar to the size of an espresso cup, but with a rich history of their own; historically, these cups did not have a handle, but most now do to make handling the hot beverage easier.
How To Make Turkish Coffee
Turkish coffee is all about technique, says Funda. "Turkish coffee is unfiltered. You're drinking the coffee grounds, and we don't brew it, we cook or boil it," Funda explains. Turkish coffee is prepared in a long handled pot typically made of copper or brass called a cezve. It can be prepared sweetened or unsweetened.In the pot, add ¾ tablespoons of coffee grounds to one cup of water and up to 1 teaspoon sugar, if desired. "It foams up and you pour it with the foam. You'll understand that it's a good Turkish coffee by the foam on top," says Funda.
How To Drink Turkish Coffee
While many of us drink our coffee on the go, Turkish coffee is not meant to be drunk in a rush or in transit. It's a ritual. "We serve it with [a small cup of] water, and a piece of Turkish delight. It's not a simple drink, it's like a get together drink, " says funda. Water is served alongside the coffee to cleanse the palate while you wait for the coffee to cool down and for the grounds to sink to the bottom of the cup. Turkish coffee is often served after meals where friends and family can linger and chat while they digest and enjoy the beverage. Funda loves seeing American customers try Turkish coffee at shop, and says it's a way "to tell them the culture and let them taste it."