Aromatic black coffee prepared in Turkish can lift your mood for the whole day, because Natural coffee beans contain not only many vitamins and microelements, but also serotonin, which is considered the “hormone of happiness”.
By adding cream, milk or spices, you can improve the classic recipe at home and create for yourself a unique coffee drink, memorable for its unique taste and aroma.
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General tips on how to properly brew Turkish coffee
The main attribute in the process of preparing an invigorating drink at home is the correctly chosen Turk. Experts consider the best option to be a small cezve, designed for 1-2 cups .
The pot can be made of copper or ceramic - such products retain the taste properties of coffee beans and help to quickly prepare the drink.
Important! The vessel must have a wide bottom and a narrowed neck, as well as a comfortable long wooden handle.
A drink brewed in a Turk on a gas stove will turn out especially tasty if you follow several nuances step by step :
- The water for preparing the drink should be cold.
- To ensure that the taste of the finished drink is rich and without any extraneous flavors, you should use purified water .
- Real espresso is made from freshly ground beans , so it would be a good idea to additionally purchase a coffee grinder.
- Only finely ground beans are suitable for preparing a rich drink .
- Pour water into the Turk to a level below the beginning of the narrowed part of the neck.
- Before filling, the cezve should be slightly warmed over low heat and only then pour in the coffee and pour in the water.
- Do not let the drink boil , interrupting this process every time the foam begins to rise.
- The foam cap should rise 2-3 times . It does not need to be removed or upset.
- During cooking, do not be distracted by other things and do not leave the stove.
Attention! You need to know that before brewing a drink, you should first choose high-quality coffee, because the taste directly depends on the beans.
The most popular variety is Arabica , which is valued for its unique aroma and has a large number of different flavor shades.
Turkish choice
For many, the process of making Turkish coffee is not just an everyday routine, but a real ritual. For many years, people have been using their favorite cezve and even passing it on from generation to generation. When a vessel becomes unusable, choosing a new one is not at all easy. Today on the market you can find Turks made of five main materials:
- ceramic - can be glazed or uncoated. Ceramics heats up evenly, does not distort the taste, but has a high level of heat capacity. Even when the jug is already removed from the heat, the liquid inside continues to heat up, since the heated walls continue to give off heat. Also, ceramic cezves are very fragile.
- made of stainless steel - the most budget models are made. The advantage of the material is safety, strength and durability. The downside is uneven heating, the bottom heats up much more, essential oils burn, changing the smell and taste of the drink.
- aluminum - do not have the main disadvantage of stainless steel, but it is not recommended to use such a Turk for a long time. When heated, the material can enter into chemical reactions with almost any product, which can lead to health problems.
- copper - are considered the best option for home use. Attractive appearance, high thermal conductivity, uniform heating make the copper Turk an ideal assistant. The main thing is to choose models with a special internal coating that protects the drink from direct contact with copper.
- silver - have average functional characteristics, are quite expensive and require special care.
Turks can be conical, cylindrical, or barrel-shaped in shape. For beginners, conical-shaped Turks are recommended. Electric Turks have been gaining popularity over the past few years. Such models themselves control the temperature and the level of foam rise, gradually heating the liquid to 96 degrees and resetting the heating level.
Classic cooking method: step-by-step instructions
Having chosen a Turk and decided on the type of coffee, you can move on to the most important process - preparing the drink.
The cooking technology includes the following steps:
- Warm the bottom of the Turks over low heat.
- Pour ground grains into the cezve and pour half of the cold water . Sugar is not included in the classic recipe, but you can add it if desired.
- Wait until the liquid stops releasing air bubbles and add the remaining water.
- Place the device on the burner, turning on the lowest heat..
- After a minute, stir the contents of the container with a spoon so that there are no lumps left in the liquid .
- As soon as bubbles begin to appear on the surface of the drink and dense foam forms , remove the vessel from the stove.
- Allow the contents to cool slightly and return the Turk to the burner to raise the foam again . Repeat the procedure 2 more times.
- After finishing cooking and turning off the heat, let the drink stand in the Turk for a couple of minutes so that the ground coffee settles to the bottom.
- Before pouring the drink into cups, warm them with hot water or any other method.
- Pour the prepared coffee into a cup and start tasting.
By the way! Instead of sugar, you can add a few crystals of salt, which will fully reveal the taste of the coffee beans and give the drink a piquant flavor.
Cooking time
The time to prepare a drink on gas depends on the quality of the Turk, the size of the burner, the strength of the fire, the density of the coffee powder and the ingredients added.
The process of brewing one serving of a classic drink in a standard volume device (100 ml) over low heat takes no more than 7 minutes .
Cooking cannot be too fast, because in this case the drink will reach a boil in just a couple of minutes, without having time to be enriched with the aromatic and taste qualities of natural ground grains.
For your information! Slow heat promotes long and intense extraction, which means the finished drink will have a rich taste and pleasant aroma.
Choosing a cezve: what to look for?
Baristas give some valuable advice when choosing a cezve (ibrica: the names are different, but the essence is the same):
- The main parameter is the material. The best and proven option is copper. It has good thermal conductivity and allows you to evenly heat the liquid inside. But a copper Turk emits harmful substances, so choose one coated inside with cupronickel, tin or even silver. Aluminum, clay, and ceramic are also suitable.
- Form. Choose models with a narrowed neck and widened bottom. Warming up with this shape will be optimal.
- Size. 100 cezve will be faster and better quality .
- Pen. Choose one that is not made of the same material as the vessel itself, otherwise it will quickly heat up and cause a burn. Plastic or wooden will do, although they have disadvantages but can be replaced. Also, the handle must be located at an angle.
How to determine the degree of readiness of a drink?
To understand exactly how long the drink takes to prepare and determine the moment when the coffee is completely ready and needs to be removed from the heat, it is important to carefully monitor the process of formation and rise of foam . It is also worth paying attention to the fact that after removing the vessel from the fire for the first time, the procedure must be repeated twice. The liquid should not rise above the neck or spill .
The drink will be ready for drinking once the formed foam begins to move upward again.
At this moment, you need to ensure that the dense foam that prevents contact of the drink with air does not violate its integrity .
Coffee prepared in Turk produces a pleasant aroma, is not bitter and has a bright, rich taste, which is also a sign that the drink was brewed according to all the rules.
Grinding
Cup of Joe is beloved for the aroma imparted by the essential oils that fill the voids in the beans and are released during grinding. Therefore, it is recommended to use the ground powder within two to three weeks after grinding. Fresh grinding is not only a requirement for Turkish coffee, but for all methods of brewing coffee. To prevent the smell from weakening during storage, the ground powder should be kept in a tightly closed glass container.
The best option for cezve is medium and fine grinding. Despite the fact that it is more often recommended to use ultra-fine grinding in Turk, in fact, grains in the form of dust in the drink create a suspension that is difficult to settle. Only coffee masters of the highest caliber can handle such grinding correctly.
Popular recipes
There are many recipes for making coffee in a cezve on a gas stove, each of which has its own unique characteristics. You can brew coffee with the addition of caramel, milk or honey, creating a delicious drink without any effort.
- With milk.
Ingredients:
- hot espresso – 50 ml;
- milk – 150 ml;
- sugar - to taste.
Cooking method:
Heat the milk, but do not bring it to a boil. Then pour into a wide cup or transparent glass. Add sugar to the brewed espresso and pour it into a container with milk. Top with whipped cream if desired.
Important! By adding milk, espresso becomes more beneficial and helps reduce the risk of insomnia, prevents calcium from being washed out of the body, and does not increase stomach acidity.
- Cinnamon.
Ingredients:
- freshly ground coffee – 10 g;
- water – 100 ml;
- sugar – 1 teaspoon;
- cinnamon stick;
- salt - a pinch.
Cooking method:
To prepare an aromatic drink, warm the Turk slightly, add ground coffee, sugar, a pinch of salt and water. Place the cinnamon stick in a vessel and place it on low heat.
After a dense brown foam forms in the Turk, remove the container from the heat, then
allow the liquid to cool for at least one minute and place the Turk again on the burner .
If you notice the foam rising, remove the coffee from the heat and place the cezve on a wooden stand. After 2-3 minutes, remove the cinnamon stick and pour the drink into a preheated cup.
- In Turkish.
Ingredients:
- finely ground coffee – 2 tsp;
- cold water – 100 ml;
- sugar – 1-2 tsp.
Cooking method:
Pour the coffee into a pot heated over the fire and pour in cold water. Place on low heat and cook until light brown foam forms . Remove the turk from the heat, add sugar.
Mix the contents of the cezve and place the vessel on the fire. Bring until the foam rises and carefully pour the coffee into a dry, heated cup so that the creamy foam remains on the surface. Drink in small sips.
Attention! Turkish coffee should be served with a glass of water, which must be drunk before drinking coffee. This will help you fully experience the unique taste of the drink.
- With honey and spices.
Ingredients:
- ground coffee – 1 tsp;
- water – 150 ml;
- honey – 1 tsp;
- nutmeg - on the tip of a knife;
- cinnamon - a pinch.
Cooking method:
Prepare coffee according to the classic method, adding cinnamon. Cool the drink a little. Place a teaspoon of liquid honey into a cup, pour in the brewed coffee without the grounds and mix well. Top the drink with cream or ice cream.
Note! It is not recommended to add honey to Turk before cooking, since when heated, its chemical composition changes, all beneficial properties disappear, and the honey itself turns into a toxic substance that can be harmful to health.
- With cognac and ginger.
Ingredients:
- finely ground coffee – 10 g;
- cold water – 100 ml;
- sugar – 2 tsp;
- cognac – 2 tbsp;
- ginger root.
Cooking method:
Peel a small piece of ginger root and grate it on a fine grater. Place ground coffee, grated ginger, sugar and water in a Turk. Bring the drink to almost a boil, remove from heat and pour in cognac. Place on low heat again and wait until the foam rises. Pour the coffee into a cup.
- With chocolate.
Ingredients:
- freshly ground coffee – 1.5 tsp;
- cold water - by volume;
- sugar – 0.5 tsp;
- dark chocolate – 30 g;
- salt on the tip of a knife;
- vanillin - optional.
Cooking method:
Mix coffee and water in a pot and put on fire. After the foam rises for the first time, add sugar, salt, vanillin and half the chopped chocolate to the vessel . Put the device back on fire.
When the drink starts to rise, remove the Turk from the heat and pour the coffee into a cup.
Sprinkle grated chocolate on top and cover the cup with a saucer or lid.
In a few minutes the drink will be ready to drink.
- Caramel.
Ingredients:
- coffee – 1.5 tsp;
- water – 150 ml;
- granulated sugar – 2 tsp;
- cinnamon stick;
- salt - a few crystals.
Cooking method:
Pour sugar into a pot heated over a fire and place the vessel on low heat until the melting sugar begins to acquire a beautiful caramel hue and a pleasant aroma.
It is important to prevent burning, otherwise the finished drink will have a bitter taste of burnt sugar .
After turning the sand into caramel, pour ground coffee into a container, pour in warm water, add a cinnamon stick and salt. Mix the contents thoroughly and place the cezve on the burner .
When the foam rises, remove the device from the heat and repeat the procedure again. After the foam rises again, let the thicken settle and pour the drink into a hot coffee cup.
Important! To obtain a stable creamy foam during the brewing process, the drink must be raised above the fire and lowered onto the burner 4-5 times.
The liquid should not boil. There is no need to stir the drink.
General tips for brewing coffee on the stove
Making coffee is a delicate process that requires special skills and knowledge. The best baristas compete in the skill of preparing the drink at international championships. Turk produces a drink that tastes like Americano or filter coffee. What the coffee ceremony will be like depends on the choice of Turka (ibrik, cezva).
How to choose a Turk
A Turk is a small, narrowed upward container with a handle. Used for brewing Turkish (oriental) coffee. Traditional Turka is made from forged copper. Inside it is covered with a layer of food-grade tin or silver. Coffee is also brewed in ceramic pots, which are made in the shape of a ladle.
For a correctly made cezve:
- wide base;
- narrowed neck;
- bent spout for draining;
- extended handle.
According to the standard, the diameter of the container neck is 15-20% narrower than the base. This shape is needed to form a coffee cap. Ibrik, where coffee is often prepared in eastern countries, is somewhat different. It is a tall jug with a closed handle and a long curved spout.
Turks differ in size - from 60 to 500 ml. Large containers hold 6-8 cups of coffee. To prepare the best coffee, choose a cezve based on the volume of the cup (60−80 ml). When the volume is high, the coffee comes out under-extracted (watery and tasteless), with grassy and vegetable flavors.
How to choose a Turkish woman: Unsplash
General tips for brewing coffee
Turks prepare different types of ground coffee. When choosing a variety and cooking method, consider the following recommendations:
- Use fine or medium grind coffee.
- Grind the beans right before brewing.
- Store coffee in a sealed glass container if you are using pre-ground coffee from a pack.
- Brew a drink from Arabica (rich aroma and slight sourness) or a mixture of Arabica and Robusta (bitter taste, high caffeine content).
- Pay attention to the degree of roasting of the coffee beans. It comes in light, medium and dark. Heavily roasted beans give coffee a bitter taste; use them to make coffee with milk.
- Use 10 parts of water for every part of ground grains. Based on this, adjust the desired strength of the drink. Authors of the book “The Magic of Coffee. The Complete Encyclopedia Jordan Michaelman and Zachary Carlsen believe that strength depends only on the concentration of the coffee itself: it doesn’t matter how deeply the beans are roasted.
- The taste of coffee depends on the quality of the beans, the chemical composition and acidity of the water. Unpurified tap water completely eliminates flavor tones. Culinary connoisseur, author William Pokhlebkin, in the book “The Great Encyclopedia of Culinary Art,” explains that coffee requires soft water, free of salts and other impurities. To brew delicious coffee, use bottled, purified or spring water, taking into account its hardness.
- Serve coffee with foam. According to Eastern traditions, a tall hat made of coffee foam is considered a sign of respect for the guest.
Coffee with foam: Needpix
Follow the correct cooking technology on a gas and electric stove so that the coffee does not overcook:
- set the electric stove to maximum power, then turn it off and place the pot with coffee on a heated surface;
- Turn on the gas stove over low heat and immediately bring the pot to a boil.
Useful video
From this video you will learn more about how to properly brew coffee in a Turk using gas:
Despite the popularity of modern electric coffee makers and automatic coffee machines, classic cezves for making coffee on a gas stove do not lose their relevance and are in great demand among lovers of delicious black coffee .
If desired, you can add various syrups, honey or other fillers to your usual drink, which will further diversify your coffee with new flavors and aromas.
Coffee with honey
Recipe:
- Dissolve honey in warm water (to taste, 0.5–1.5 tsp per 100 ml of water).
- Pour ground coffee into a Turk, add water and honey, then prepare using the same method as Turkish coffee.
To improve the taste, add a pinch of cinnamon, cardamom, ginger or other spices to ground coffee. The drink turns out to be very filling (calorie content of 100 ml is about 300 kcal), gives strength and satisfies hunger, so Turkish coffee with honey is good before exams or sports training.
